1.5.2 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) aims:

• … to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity (UN, 2006, p.4).

It recognises the challenges facing persons with disabilities in terms of their social, economic, political and personal life and encourages UN member states to address these challenges so that these people can enjoy every day of their life. Equality and non-discrimination, awareness raising, accessibility, access to information, and access to improved health are among the areas addressed. This convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and ratified by the government of Ethiopia in 2010.