The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities took effect May 3 — 30 days after it received its 20th ratification (April 3). So far, 27 countries have ratified the convention, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and promotes their social participation.
The Japanese government should make efforts to get early Diet approval of ratification. It also should improve related domestic laws and social welfare measures to make them congruent with the spirit and provisions of the convention. The U.N. General Assembly adopted the 50-article convention on Dec. 13, 2006 — the first human-rights treaty of the 21st century. Japan signed it in September 2007.
The convention says its purpose is "to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity." It also says "State Parties shall prohibit all discrimination on the basis of disability and guarantee to persons with disabilities equal and effective legal protection against discrimination on all grounds."