Kathmandu, April 24:

The government is considering to present the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the cabinet for approval for ratification by the parliament.

The UN convention is expected to ensure rights of the people living with disablities.

Punya Prasad Neupane, secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare said, “The proposal on the approval of the convention has already been prepared, the ministry is reviewing it.”

“The existing law has charitable perspective to deal with the disabled people and plan for their welfare while the UN convention ensures right based perspective for any activities aimed at welfare of the disabled people. The ratification of the convention would help pressure the authorities to ensure rights of the disabled,” said Birendra Raj Pokharel, president of National Federation of Disabled - Nepal (NFDN).

The NFDN with the support of National Human Rights Commission has already translated the convention in Nepali and has circulated it among the members of cabinet.

The convention, which has 50 articles based on the principles of inherent dignity and participation of the persons living with disabilities demands the signatory country to modify national legislation on disability in accordance with the principles of the convention.

A total of 84 countries are signatory to the convention and 44 countries have accepted its optional protocol, while Jamaica is the only country to ratify the convention.

The convention would be enforcable after ratification by 20 countries.