UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/AC.265/2006/7
General Assembly
Distr.: General
19 January 2007
Original: English
07-21433 (E) 220107
*0721433*
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive
and Integral International Convention on
the Protection and Promotion of the Rights
and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities
Letter dated 18 January 2007 from the Chairman
Opening for signature of the Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be open for
signature by all States and by regional integration organizations at United Nations
Headquarters in New York as from 30 March 2007.
Various colleagues have approached members of the Bureau of the Ad Hoc
Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International Convention on the
Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities to
enquire about the arrangements for the opening of the Convention for signature, and
in particular whether there will be a ceremony associated with it.
In the absence of a consultative mechanism for the Convention during this
transitional phase, members of the Bureau have consulted among themselves and
with other colleagues on this matter.
Colleagues will be aware that it has been the practice to have signature
ceremonies, attended by ministers and other high representatives, in respect of the
opening for signature of significant conventions. An example is the Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women, which was opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters
with an afternoon ceremony in the Trusteeship Council Chamber, attended by
ministers and other high-level representatives. The Secretary-General presided over
that event together with his Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of
Women, Angela King, and a range of dignitaries took the floor prior to the actual
signing. We are also aware of arrangements that are being made for a ceremony to
be associated with the signature of the International Convention for the Protection
of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
Given that this is the first comprehensive human rights convention adopted
this millennium, that it potentially affects over 650 million persons with disabilities
worldwide and that its development has involved an unprecedented level of input
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07-21433
and engagement from civil society around the world, there is clearly a high level of
interest in having a formal ceremony for the opening of the new Convention for
signature on 30 March.
The Bureau has therefore requested the United Nations Secretariat (the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Office of the United Nations
High Commissioner for Human Rights, in conjunction with the Office of Legal
Affairs) to proceed with arrangements for a formal signature ceremony at United
Nations Headquarters on 30 March.
The purpose of the present letter is therefore to inform you of the
arrangements that are being made.
I would therefore urge Governments to take the necessary steps to be able to
sign the Convention at the ceremony on 30 March. I would also ask Governments to
consider the possibility of being represented at that ceremony by ministers or other
high-level participants, in keeping with the importance of the occasion and the
significance of the new Convention.
(Signed) Don MacKay
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive
and Integral International Convention on the Protection and
Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities