Plight of disabled goes to UN

(April 18, 2012)The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
is going to examine for the first time the implementation of a UN convention concerning the rights of the disabled in China, including the special administrative regions in Hong Kong and Macau. Representatives from 22 civil groups briefed a UN committee in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday, on how society treats people with disabilities in these countries. According to the representatives, their private meeting aroused committee members’ concerns on various problems, including the need for an independent monitoring mechanism to protect, promote and ensure the rights of people with disabilities. The committee also suspects there are violations against the spirit of the convention, as the employment rate for disabled people is rather low, and those who are working may not be able to even get the minimum wage. Law Yuk-kai, director of Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, expects that local authorities will be embarrassed when the list of issues comes out, since there are many deficiencies in overall policy and support. Law, who sent a representative to the April 16-20 Geneva meeting. hopes the UN list can act as an impetus for the government to improve the overall situation of the disabled people.