6 Sep 2011

UN / DISABILITIES

Noting that 15 percent of the world’s population live with one or more disabilities, Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden said today that an internationally agreed development goals will not be reached “if we ignore persons with disabilities.” UNTV / FILE

Posted at: September 6, 2011 3:34 pm

Duration: 02:05

Available in: SD

DOWNLOAD

Full script

STORY: UN / DISABILITIES
TRT: 2.05
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ NATS

DATELINE: 6 SEPTEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1.	Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

6 SEPTEMBER 2011, NEW YORK CITY

2.	Wide shot, dais
3.	Wide shot, audience
4.	SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden:
"Approximately one billion persons or 15 percent of the world's population live with one or more disabilities. The international community needs to understand and act upon the fact that we will not reach any internationally agreed development goals if we ignore persons with disabilities in our development efforts."	
5.	Close up, photographers
6.	SOUNDBITE (English) Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden:
"The Convention will help build a more inclusive society where everybody wins from the participation of many voices, where equal opportunity for all produce benefits for all."	
7.	Med shot, journalists
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Ronald Clive McCallum, Chairman of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
"It is the second fastest ratification of any UN convention. Already we have 103 countries that have ratified. The only convention that's faster, that was more speedily ratified, is the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Nevertheless we are very happy in the committee that in this significant subject of disabilities, there has been very speedy ratification. Sadly, only 62 of the 103 countries have ratified the optional protocol."
9.	Wide shot, audience
10.	SOUNDBITE (English) Ronald Clive McCallum, Chairman of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
"Women with disabilities have higher rates of unemployment than do we men with disabilities. It's only through employment that we can play full roles as citizens in our countries. It's only through employment that we can use our talents to contribute to the better of society. It's only through employment that we can support ourselves and our families."
11.	Wide shot, audience
12.	Wide shot, dais

STORYLINE:

Noting that 15 percent of the world's population live with one or more disabilities, Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden said today (6 September) that internationally agreed development goals will not be reached "if we ignore persons with disabilities in our development efforts."

Speaking at a press conference at UN Headquarters to launch the Fourth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Larsson said that full ratification "will help build a more inclusive society where everybody wins from the participation of many voices, where equal opportunity for all produce benefits for all."
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted by the General Assembly in 2006 and came into force on 3 May 2008 upon the 20th ratification. 149 countries are signatories to the Convention while 103 countries have ratified it.

The Chairman of Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ronald Clive McCallum, told journalists that "It is the second fastest ratification of any UN convention, but added that "sadly, only 62 of the 103 countries have ratified the optional protocol."

The Optional Protocol establishes an individual complaints mechanism for the Convention and it's crucial for its full implementation.

McCallum emphasised the importance of employment and noted that women with disabilities "have higher rates of unemployment than do we men with disabilities", adding that "it's only through employment that we can play full roles as citizens in our countries; it's only through employment that we can use our talents to contribute to the better of society; it's only through employment that we can support ourselves and our families."

The theme of this year Conference of State Parties is "Enabling Development, Realizing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities". The sub-themes are: "Realizing the Convention through International Cooperation", "Political and Civil Participation" and "Work and Employment".

Filed under 10.05.00 - THE DISABLED UNTV - United Nations Television.