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- Ambassador David MacNaughton speaks to the Disability Rights International – DRI 25th Anniversary celebration Canadian Embassy, Washington DC
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- Disability Rights International – DRI 25th Anniversary celebration Canadian Embassy, Washington DC Eric Rosenthal, executive director with honorees and Ambassador David MacNaughton
This week Ambassador MacNaughton and leaders of Disability Rights International celebrated the organization’s 25th anniversary.
This anniversary comes at an auspicious time for Canada and we are honoured to call the group a partner. Recently, we introduced Bill C-81, the most significant disability rights legislation in over 30 years. When passed, this bill will help create a barrier-free Canada for people with disabilities through proactive identification, removal, and prevention of barriers to accessibility wherever Canadians interact with areas under federal jurisdiction, like banking, telecommunications, and transportation. The legislation was drafted after extensive consultation with provinces, territories, stakeholder organizations, and thousands of Canadians.
Globally, Canada is committed to disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action. In 2010, we joined the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The convention protects and promotes the rights of and dignity of persons with disabilities. Last year in 2018, we joined the Optional Protocol to the Convention, allowing individuals and organizations to make a complaint to the UN if they believe their rights have been violated. The Government of Canada has followed-up on these actions with financial commitments to help reduce poverty and promote the rights of persons with disabilities around the world.