By The Nation
Published on December 4, 2008

With some 400 million disabled people living in poor countries around the world, governments must work to develop the potential of this enormous group, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged.

In support, a Thai advocate has called for the government's implementation of a Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

To mark International Day of Disabled Persons yesterday - the Social Development and Human Security Ministry and related organisations hosted an event entitled "CRPD to the dignified, good society with fairness" at Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus. It honoured outstanding individuals, organisation and business establishments for their work with the disabled.

Senator Montien Boonton called for the Thai government to implement the CRPD, which Thailand had ratified on July 29. The convention, in effect since August 28, promotes 17 rights for the disabled including; equal recognition before the law; freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse; adequate standard of living and social protection; and participation in political and public life, he said.

He said if Thailand observed the convention strictly, the public viewpoint towards people with disabilities would change from regarding disabilities as the result of bad karma, to perceiving sufferers as society members with rights and freedoms to live without discrimination.

Speakers quoted the UN secretary-general as saying that in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, people with disabilities should participate in all processes.

Ban said that 80 per cent of people with disabilities, or more than 400 million, lived in poor countries. Therefore governments and others should work harder to eliminate this circle of poverty and disability and integrate disabled peoples' development into plans for a better future for all members of society.