Geneva: March 7 –(BNA)– Bahrain’s delegation headed by Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Dr. Yusuf Abdul-Karim Bucheeri, and participated (Wednesday, March 6, 2013) in the Fourth annual interactive debate of the Human Rights Council on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, on the ‘participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life’.

Ambassador Bucheeri delivered spoke on behalf of the Arab Group, stressing the importance of holding this annual panel discussion on the rights of persons with disabilities.

He praised the allocation of this year’s theme for the employment of persons with disabilities and the study conducted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on this highly important topic.

Mr. Bucheeri noted that the right to work was a fundamental right enshrined in many international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stipulating defending their right to work on an equal footing with others and giving opportunity for people with disabilities to gain livelihood through working in an environment suitable for them.
This is in addition to stressing on the principle of non-discrimination against this group, especially in the work place, and the need to take measures that will promote opportunities for persons with disabilities to work in decent jobs.

He also affirmed the importance of raising awareness, especially among employers, regarding the rights of persons with disabilities in order to eliminate stereotypes relating to the ability of this group of people.

He noted the commitment of Arab states to further protect and upgrade the rights of persons with disabilities, noting that the majority of Arab countries ratified the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

As evidence on the implementation of these commitments, Ambassador Bucheeri noted the Arab Charter on Human Rights of 2004 and many of its articles aimed at ensuring that persons with disabilities enjoy all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Charter without discrimination or mistreatment, and stipulated in the Arab Convention No.17 for 1993, on rehabilitation of the disabled on the principle of equality, all of which confirmed by the Arab Charter for Action and the Constitution of the Arab Organization for work on the development of Arab manpower.

This is in addition to the document “The Arab Decade of Disabled Persons 2004 2013” produced in the Sixteenth Ordinary Session of the Council of Arab League at summit level, in order to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities, putting them on the list of priorities of Arab governments and stressing on the need to integrate them into society as an important part of the social fabric. (IY)