Minister for Foreign Affairs Tuomioja satisfied with the decision of Parliament to proceed with the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol were approved in the plenary session of Parliament today.

Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja considers that this parliamentary decision is a strong political message in the ratification process of the Convention and a very positive step in the promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities.

Parliament required that the conditions of Article 14 of the Convention must be met in the national legislation before Finland can ratify the Convention. In practice this means that provisions concerning restrictions to the individual autonomy of persons with disabilities must be duly laid down by law before Finland can commit to the Convention internationally by depositing its instruments of ratification with the UN Secretary-General. The Convention and its Optional Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification.

Additional information: Satu Sistonen, Legal Officer, tel. +358 295 351 789, and Tarja Kantola, Special Adviser, tel.  +358 40 590 4119.