Ministers mark International Day for Persons with Disabilities
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne and Department for Work & Pensions Minister Maria Miller have spoken on International Day for Persons with Disabilities.
The International Day for Persons with Disabilities aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues. It focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities and the gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life.
Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne said:
“The UK is proud to support the rights of disabled people. It is important that the same rights and freedoms enjoyed by disabled people in the UK are freely enjoyed by disabled people throughout the world.
“The theme of this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities is about keeping promises. I am committed to ensuring that the UK keeps its own promises on human rights, by supporting work to support and protect the rights of disabled people globally, and promoting universal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People.
“I am delighted that yesterday EU Ministers agreed the legal and technical processes which will allow the EU to ratify the Convention. This will further strengthen the EU’s position as a leader in the field on disability rights.”
Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People at the Department of Work & Pensions, said:
“The UK has a strong history of disability rights and this is recognised by the international community. We ratified the UN Convention last year, and we are now working with disabled people, organisations that represent them, business and the voluntary sector to ensure that the things we have committed to become reality.
“We want disabled people to fulfil their potential. For example the Work Choice programme will support more disabled people into work than any previous government schemes.”