Letter in Support

MDAC advances the human rights of people with intellectual or mental health disabilities. Focusing on Europe and central Asia, we use a combination of law and advocacy to promote equality and integration.

Please help us ensure the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities fulfils its potential

Join our Ratify the Disability Convention campaign by writing to governments urging them to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a matter of urgency.

Suggested points to make in your letter

• If you are a citizen or resident of the country led by the government you are writing to, explain this.
• If you are a supporter of MDAC say this, and also explain that MDAC advances the human rights of people with intellectual or mental health disabilities.
• Explain that you are joining MDAC, its partner and many other organizations and individuals, in their campaign to encourage States to ratify and implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
• Give reasons why the government should ratify and implement the Convention. These might include some or all of the following:
  • until the drafting of the Convention began people with disabilities were virtually invisible to society.
  • as a consequence of this invisibility they are subject to routine discrimination and abuse
  • this invisibility and abuse is mainly the result of disability being viewed as a medical or charity problem.
  • the drafting of the Convention has made it clear that disability has for many years been a human rights issue, but a human rights issue that has been ignored by society and particularly by governments.
  • by adopting the Convention the international community has made it clear that disability should now be viewed as a human rights issue by all people and all governments.
  • to show commitment to this international agreement and to put an end to the routine abuse and discrimination of people with disabilities, you urge the government to ratify the Convention and take immediate steps towards its prompt implementation.
• You would welcome a reply to your letter confirming the government's intended action in relation to the Convention.

MDAC would be grateful for notification, or a copy, of any reply you might receive.

Thank you for contributing to the advancement of the human rights or children and adults with intellectual or psycho-social (mental health) disabilities.

Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC)
Hercegprímás u. 11, 1051 Budapest, Hungary
tel: +36 1 413 27 30, fax: +36 1 413 27 39
e-mail: mdac@mdac.org, web: www.mdac.org