Minda And The 2006 Un Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities

Minda and the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Minda is one of the first disability organisations in Australia to adopt the principles of the 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Today, Ben Wallace, State Manager of the South Australian Office of the Department of Families, Housing, Community, Services and Indigenous Affairs will attend Minda to formally recognise the organisation's commitment to the Convention's principles at an 'Open Mind' seminar at Brighton, on behalf of Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, the Honourable Bill Shorten.

Minda officially adopted the Convention's principles in June 2009, following the Federal Government's ratification of the Convention in July 2008, a move in which Mr Shorten played an instrumental role.

The Convention is designed to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people with disability and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The implications of Australia's ratification of the Convention will be far reaching.

"For people with disability, it will mean they will have greater choice in where they live, who they live with, who supports them and how they are supported," said Susan McInerney, Minda CEO.

"Minda's adoption of the principles of the Convention will enable the organisation to raise greater awareness of disability issues and foster a more inclusive society by helping the general public understand why ensuring human rights for people with disability is important," she added.

Minda is positioning itself as a lead agency in Australia by adopting the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Mr Shorten was unable to attend the event, however expressed his approval of Minda's decision to adopt the guiding principles.

Mr Shorten said that adopting the UN Convention was a sign of the Rudd Government's commitment to increasing opportunities for people with disability.

"People with disability too often find themselves being treated as 2nd-class citizens or living lives of internal exile in their own country," Mr Shorten said.

"I applaud the work of Minda and similar organisations which are fighting for the right of people with disability to a life of dignity and fulfilment," he added.

Internationally acclaimed UN speaker, Robert Martin, will also be presenting on the rights of people with disability, being a person with intellectual disability himself, at the Open Mind seminar. Associate Professor Roger Stancliffe, of the University of Sydney, who has made a notable contribution to research in the disability sector, will also present from a research perspective.

Open to the public, Minda's Open Mind seminar series focus on current best practice and cover topics specific to the disability sector, with the main intent of enhancing the lives of people living with intellectual disability.

EVENT PARTICULARS:
Date: Wednesday, 30 September
Time: 1.00 p.m. 5.00 p.m.
Venue: Bank SA Marquee on the lawns, Minda Incorporated
King George Avenue, Brighton SA 5048
RSVP: South Australian Learning Centre on 8422 6530 or
email [email protected]

Minda is one of South Australia's largest disability organisations supporting over 1500 individuals in accommodation, respite, leisure and employment, and also one of the State's largest employers with over 900 staff

For more information on the Open Mind seminars or Minda's adoption of the UN Convention's principles, or to arrange an interview or photograph, contact Julia Hodge on 0437 907 963.

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Media Contact
Julia Hodge
Internal Communications Consultant
p. 8422 6513 or m. 0437 907 963

SOURCE: Minda Incorporated