May 2, 2008, 18:28 GMT
New York - An international convention protecting the rights of the world's 650 million people with disabilities will enter into force Saturday, it was announced by the United Nations.
A total of 127 countries have signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its protocol in the past year. Of that number, 25 have ratified, thus enabling the treaty to become effective.
The convention rapidly gained support from governments since it was opened for signatures in March, 2007. The number of ratifications required to make the convention effective was 20, but the wide support has quickly pushed up the number of ratifications in just a year's time.
The ratifiers commit themselves to enact domestic laws and measures aimed at improving disability rights, and on the other hand, abolish legislation or customs and practices that discriminate against the disabled.
The UN said the convention will be a 'powerful tool' to remove obstacles faced by disabled people, which range from discrimination and segregation from society to economic marginalization.
The UN said 80 per cent of the 650 million disabled people live in the world's less developed nations.
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