The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 30 March 2007. The text had been adopted by the General Assembly in resolution A/RES/61/106 on 13 December 2006; that is the adoption, distinct from the opening for signature and from entry into force. Depositary: the Secretary-General. United Nations Treaty Series, volume 2515, registration no. 44910. Authentic languages, article 50: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Article 1: the purpose is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The preamble treats disability as an evolving concept, the result of interaction between impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers.

Article 3 lists the principles: dignity and autonomy, non-discrimination, participation and inclusion, respect for difference, equality of opportunity, accessibility, equality between men and women, and respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities. Article 4 requires legislative and administrative measures, consultation with representative organisations, and progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights, without reducing immediately applicable obligations. Articles 5–7: equality before the law, women and children with disabilities; medical handbooks are not copied here.

Article 9: access to the physical environment, transport, information and communications, including technologies. Article 19: living independently and being included in the community. Articles 24, 27 and 29: education, work and political life, at the level of principle. Article 33: national focal points and independent monitoring. Article 34 establishes the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; article 40, the Conference of States Parties.

Article 42 opens the Convention for signature by all States and by regional integration organisations, at Headquarters in New York. Article 43: ratification, formal confirmation, accession. Article 44: regional organisations (their instrument does not count toward the article 45(1) threshold). Article 45: entry into force on the thirtieth day after the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession — 3 May 2008. The Optional Protocol, a distinct instrument, was opened at the same Headquarters; it is not the Convention.

Cover: United Nations Headquarters on the East River; the place of the opening for signature, with no particular inner room claimed. Wikimedia Commons, free licence.

Sources consulted: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNTC).