GATINEAU, QC, June 15, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - From June 13 to 15, 2017, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, represented Canada at the 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York.
In her opening remarks, Minister Qualtrough signaled Canada's commitment to people with disabilities, shared an update on the development of new federal accessibility legislation, and reinforced Canada's commitments under the Convention.
Minister Qualtrough also announced Canada's endorsement of the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action. The Charter aims to significantly improve living conditions of people with disabilities during emergencies. The announcement was made on behalf of Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada's Minister of International Development and La Francophonie.
In addition, Minister Qualtrough announced that Canada is now a member of the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network. GLAD is an important global network for exchanging ideas and lessons learned on how to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in international development efforts and humanitarian action.
During her visit, Minister Qualtrough met with international counterparts and attended a number of roundtables to share best practices related to disability issues, including hosting a session with youth delegates from Canada focusing on leadership, accessibility and inclusion.
With the goal of mentoring future leaders, Minister Qualtrough invited youth delegates to join Canada's official delegation. These delegates are professionals, entrepreneurs, and ambassadors whose contributions have been publicly recognized while pursuing their studies, establishing their careers, and forging new ground in accessibility. The youth delegates took the opportunity to discuss their role as leaders in the disability community, their motivation for getting involved, the challenges and successes they encountered along the way. They also gave their views on what can be done to inspire and engage the disability community's next generation of leaders. This is the first time Canada has invited a youth delegation to the Conference of States Parties to the Convention.
The Minister also held meetings with Alastair McEwin, Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner; Andreas Reinalter, representative of Austria's Social Ministry; and Victor Calise, New York City Mayor's Office Commissioner for International Affairs.
Quote
"As Canada's minister responsible for people with disabilities, I believe we need more inclusive societies for everyone. Canada is committed to its obligations under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and to working together with our international partners to address the challenges that continue to exist for people with disabilities, at home and abroad."
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities.
Quick Facts
- Canada ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2010.
- The Convention protects and promotes the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others.
- Parties to the Convention are expected to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights by people with disabilities.
Related Products
- Backgrounder: Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Backgrounder: Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network
Associated Links
- Minister Qualtrough's Opening Remarks at the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
- Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action
- Rights of people with disabilities
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
For media enquiries, please contact: Ashley Michnowski, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, 819-934-1122 / TTY: 1-866-702-6967; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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