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The Government of Canada is leading consultations to inform planned accessibility legislation.
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International
CCD's approach to international cooperation is based upon human rights and our disability rights principles of equality, consumer-control, self-representation, citizenship, and empowerment. Canadians with disabilities focus on the need to remove barriers to participation that individuals with disabilities face within their communities. CCD's International Development Committee provides leadership on international issues.
Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, far left, observes as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, second from left, meets members of the Canadian delegation, including CCD's Steve Estey. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Recent Work
December 21, 2018
Open Letter: Recognizing Two Important Human Rights Milestones of 2018
The Council of Canadians with Disabilities (CCD) celebrates Canada’s accession to the Optional Protocol. We recognize that accession reinforces the commitment that the Federal, Provincial and Territorial governments have made to ensuring that people with disabilities have full enjoyment of their human rights, as elaborated in the CRPD, which Canada ratified in 2010. CCD called upon Canada to accede to the Optional Protocol because the mechanism strengthens the human rights protections that are available to people with disabilities in the CRPD, and we congratulate you on this important advance. Read more.
May 23, 2017
Review of Canada's Accession to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
In light of the importance that the CCD attaches to the OP we have taken the time to consult with a number of international law experts on the matter along with our own membership, and what follows is a synthesis of their views and our own, in a process that very much mirror’s the drafting of the treaty all those years ago. Read more.
December 23, 2016
Canada to Ratify CRPD's Optional Protocol
Minister Qualtrough and Minister Dion announced that Canada would ratify the CRPD’s Optional Protocol in 2017. Read more.
More on International
June 22, 2015
Advocate for Change: Disability/Deaf Issues and the Federal Election
February 28, 2014
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: First Report of Canada
August 2, 2013
Vangelis Nikias: Welcome to My World
June 3, 2013
CASHRA 2013: Renewing the Vision
May 8, 2013
Vangelis Nikias Discusses Disability Rights and The Conversation Between International Law and Domestic Law
April 5, 2013
Your Presence is requested at CASHRA2013.ca
Canada signs the Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the United Nations. Members of the Canadian Delegation Steve Estey, Chair of CCD’s International Committee, and Dulcie McCallum observe Canada’s ambassador make this historic commitment.
HRSDC Minister Diane Finley, Defense Minister Peter MacKay, NDP Disability Critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Liberal MP Mike Savage, Liberal MP the Hon. Carolyn Bennett and Bloc MP Yves Lessard joined leaders from the disability community at a CCD celebration of Canada's ratification of the CRPD.
May 12, 2008
Canadians with Disabilities Celebrate the Coming into Force of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
As twenty countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), it now has the force of international law. Steve Estey, the Chairperson of CCD's International Development Committee joined other colleagues from the global disability rights movement at a UN ceremony to promote greater societal awareness of the CRPD, which provides guidance to countries on how to ensure people with disabilities experience full enjoyment of their human rights. Read more.