Committee recommends to ratify convention

Committee recommends to ratify convention

Nasik Swami Thursday, June 02, 2016

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has recommended that Fiji ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) without reservations.

This after committee chairman Netani Rika presented their report to Parliament yesterday.

“This report provides a summary and examination of written submissions and oral evidence heard at the committee public hearings in May, 99 per cent of which were in favour of ratifying UNCRPD without reservation, except for the final written submission made by the Youth Integrity — Transparency International that had a few reservations,” Mr Rika said.

The report stated the convention was an international human rights convention that set out the fundamental human rights of people with disabilities.

“The committee noted from the submissions received that all of the submissions supported the ratification of the convention without reservation.

“Many stakeholders were of the view that Fiji should ratify the convention as it would strengthen our commitment to our international obligations and legal duties by virtue of our being a member of the UN since 13th October 1970,” it said.

The report also stated it became clear from the evidence that the stakeholders held a common view that Fiji should ratify the convention since it had already signed the UNCRPD on June 2, 2010.

“Fiji is committed to realising the rights of people with disabilities by setting up a number of initiatives which Government has progressed in previous years. The National Policy on Persons Living with Disabilities (2008-2018) provides a framework and guide for Government, NGOs, communities, families and individuals on how to create a society that respects the rights and freedoms of all its citizens,” it said.