EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WEST MIDLANDS REGION: UNITED NATIONS

Dear Colleagues

On 8 June 2009 the UK ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

This important UN Convention is a human rights treaty which aims to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights by disabled people. It sets out what governments are expected to do to ensure disabled people's rights are protected. The Convention covers a number of key areas. These include health, education, employment, access to justice, personal security independent living and access to information.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has been designated alongside the Scottish Human Rights Commission, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Northern Ireland Equality Commission as part of the monitoring framework in the UK to 'promote, protect and monitor' implementation of The UN Convention. http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=259  

The United Nations CRPD Committee will be monitoring governments' implementation of this Convention. The evidence provided by disabled people will play a crucial part in the Committee's assessments. The EHRC is currently carrying out an initial review of Britain's compliance with and progress towards implementation of the Convention.

As part of this, we are hosting a number of regional meetings across UK. You are invited to attend an event in in Birmingham about the CRPD. At this event we will explain our planned work to promote and monitor the Convention and we would like to hear your views about what areas we should be prioritising. You can find out more about our plans on our webpage: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/human-rights/un-convention-on-disability-rights/

This event will take place on Wednesday 7 April 2010 at Aston business school, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET. The event is free of any charges. The event flyer together with a booking form and is attached for your kind attention. We would be grateful if you could confirm your attendance by completing and returning the attached booking form via email to UNCRPD@equalityhumanrights.com
0203 117 0461.

Please note, places are limited, therefore, please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Please do forward this onto your contacts or any organisations that may be interested in this area of work.



Best Wishes


Zahid Nawaz
Regional Manager
EHRC
3rd Floor Lancaster House
Birmingham
B3 1NA


EQUALITY & HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WEST MIDLANDS REGION: UNITED NATIONS

CONVENTION FOR THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

7th of APRIL 2010, AT ASTON BUSINESS SCHOOL, CONFERENCE ASTON, ASTON
UNIVERSITY, ASTON TRIANGLE, BIRMINGHAM, B4 7ET, UK