UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities : a call for action on poverty, discrimination and lack of access

Abstract

The conference was held from 20 to 22 May 2008 – 17 days after the UNCRPD came into force on 3 May. The closeness of these two events was coincidental, as preparations for the conference started two years earlier. The conference drew 500 participants and speakers from 58 countries. Persons with disabilities, disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), service providers, representatives of government, the African Union Commission, UN agencies, the World Bank, and international and national NGOs attended the conference.