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Summary: Six disabled children and young people from Bangladesh, China and the United Kingdom will address the United Nations Committee drafting the first-ever Convention on disability rights to ensure that millions of children with disabilities are included in the treaty.
Date: Tuesday 17 January, 3:00 pm Six disabled children and young people from Bangladesh, China and the United Kingdom will address the United Nations Committee drafting the first-ever Convention on disability rights to ensure that millions of children with disabilities are included in the treaty. The children and young people, representatives of Save the Children, fear that the Convention is not addressing enough the rights of an estimated 150-200 million children with disabilities around the world. The representatives, two from each country and ranging in age from 15 to 26, found out that they share many concerns in spite of their different disabilities and backgrounds. "This is my life," said Nancy Maguire from the UK after hearing the plight of the four Asian youth. "The stigma attached to a disabled child means that in many countries they are not even registered at birth," said Jasmine Whitbread, Save the Children Chief Executive. "They become invisible and face abandonment, while others are committed to institutions, neglected or hidden away," she said, adding that only five per cent of disabled children in developing countries have access to support to any kind, and less than five per cent go to school. The six young people will also speak at a side event at the United Nations (Conference Room D) on Wednesday, 18 January at 1:15 pm. Read the draft UN Convention, whose Article 7 is devoted to children with disabilities.
Location: United Nations, Conference Room 4