is Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was finally ratified by Malaysia on 6th July 2010. In a brief ceremony, the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Dato Seri Shahrizat Abd Jalil signed the ratification witnessed by representatives from disabled persons' organisations. The Deputy Foreign Minister Daatuk Richard Riot also witnessed the event.
Disability organisations in Malaysia had been urging the government to participate in the drafting of the CRPD from way back in 2002.
In November 2005, as a member of the National Advisory and Consultative Council for the Disabled, I suggested to the Minister Dato' Shahrizat Jalil who chaired the meeting, to include a disabled person in the Malaysian delegation to the next CRPD meeting in New York in January 2006. She assured that the Ministry would look into it.
January 2006 : A Malaysian delegation attended the 7th Session of the Ad Hoc Committee.
In March 2006 : Disability organisations were invited to a meeting to give input and deliberate on the CRPD draft ( I recall clearly the representative from the Ministry of Tourism expressing concern if the Convention would give 'extra' rights to disabled persons compared to able-bodied citizens)
In May 2006 : The 7th Session Ad Hoc Committee Report of the CRPD was circulated to all Ministries and disability organisations for their feedback.
In August 2006 : Finalising of negotiations on the final draft of the Convention and the Optional Protocol. Our Malaysian delegation included disabled representative Mah Hassan bin Omar who participated in the negotiations.
8 April 2008 : Malaysia signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (but did not sign the Optional Protocol)
6 July 2010 : Malaysia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (with Reservations on Articles 15 and 18; and Interpretative Declarations on Article 3 (b), (e) and Article 5 (2); and did not ratify the Optional Protocol)
..............................................................................CRDP Chronology. Source : United Nations Enable Website
30 March 2007 - the Convention and Optional Protocol opened for signature at UN Headquarters in New York. States or regional integration organisations may now sign the Convention and Optional Protocol at an time at UN Headquarters in New York.
13 December 2006 - The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.
December 2006 - the resumed eighth session of the Ad Hoc Committee adopted the final draft of the Convention and its Optional Protocol with th etechnical amendments suggested by the drafting committee.
September - November 2006- Liechtenstein convened the drafting group which undertook a technical review to ensure uniformity of terminology throughout the text and to harmonise the versions in the six official languages of the UN.
August 2006 - the eighth session of the Ad Hoc Committee finalised negotiations on the draft Convention and a separate Optional Protocol and adopted the texts ad interim subject to a technical review being undertaken by a drafting committee consisting of State representatives. (MALAYSIAN delegation including disabled representative Mah Hassan bin Omar attended)
May-August 2006 - Mexico led informal consultations on internal monitoring.
January 2006 - the seventh Ad Hoc Committee completed a first readin of the Chairperson's text (MALAYSIAN delegation attended)
August 2005 - the sixth session of the Ad Hoc Committee completed the second reading of the draft text. The Chairperson prepared a revised text, reflecting debate at the third, fourth and fifth sessions for presentation at the seventh session of the Committee.
January/February 2005 - the fifth session of theAd Hoc Committee held informal consultations on specific draft articles. Civil society organisations. national human rights institutions and inter-governmental organisations were allowed to attend the informal consultations although only States had the right to intervene.
August/September 2004 - fourth session of the Ad Hoc Committee. The Committee completed the first reading of the draft text and started the second reading. The participation of civil society organisations and national human rights institutions in the sessions of the Committee was confirmed although the right to intervene was limited.
May/June 2004 - third session of the Ad Hoc Committee. The Committee conducted a first reading of the working group draft. The Ad Hoc Committe discussed whether it should meet in closed session in the future or in the presence of civil society organisations and national human rights institutions.
January 2004 - the working group met and produced a working draft of the convention text, taking into account the numerous drat texts submitted by States and others.
August 2003 - second session of the Ad Hoc Committee which established a working group to prepare a draft text. Twenty-seven government representatives designated by regional groups, twelve representatives from NGOs and one representative of National Human Rights Institutions comprisd the working group.
August 2002 - first session of the Ad Hoc Committee meets and sets our procedures for participation of civil society.
December 2001 - Mexican proposal in the General Assembly to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to consider proposals for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
