Phl to report to UN on PWD protection

WASHINGTON – The Philippines will report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva next month on what it is doing to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities, a committee statement said.

As a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Philippines is required to submit regular reports to the committee composed of 18 international independent experts.

Also scheduled to present reports are Algeria, Bulgaria, Malta, Poland, South Africa and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. They are among the 177 states that have ratified the Convention and so are required to submit regular reports to the UN committee.

The Philippines will give the committee experts a briefing on Sept. 10 and have a dialogue with them on Sept. 12 and 13. Committee findings on the respective countries will be published on Sept. 24.

The Convention is aimed at changing the way people with disabilities are viewed and treated in their societies. It covers many areas where obstacles can arise, such as physical access to buildings, roads and transportation, and access to information through written and electronic communications.

It also aims to eliminate stigma and discrimination, which are often reasons why those with disabilities are excluded from education, employment and health and other services.