At the sitting held on 18 May, the Committee on Labour, Ex-Servicemen’s and Social Issues discussed the Bill on the Confirmation of the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Bill on the Confirmation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

UNDP expert Dr Damjan Tatic spoke of the goals of the Convention stressing that this is the first document on human rights adopted under the patronage of the United Nations in the new millennium. The Convention coming to force will enable disabled persons to become active subjects, ready to fully participate in social life as equals with other citizens.

The Committee unanimously endorsed the Bills. Since the discussion called for a clarification of the concept of “legal capacity” used in the translation of the international document, the Committee adopted a conclusion to request an authentic interpretation pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, after the Bill on the Confirmation of the Convention has been adopted.

The sitting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, UNDP and the National Organisation of Persons with Disabilities, and chaired by Committee Chairman Meho Omerovic.