Disability Action shares top international award

MEDIA RELEASE FROM CCS DISABILITY ACTION

4 April 2008

CCS Disability Action shares top international disability award

CCS Disability Action is celebrating with its partners Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) and People First a US$50,000 grant they have received as part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award.

New Zealand won the Roosevelt Award for the leading role they played in the writing of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to enhance the participation of disabled people throughout the world.

The US$50,000 grant, which is part of the Award, is given to an outstanding non-government disability organisation selected by the winning country.

Twenty four disability organisations across the country submitted applications for the grant but it was the unique collaborative spirit and effort from CCS Disability Action, DPA and People First that clinched the win.

The three organisations will use the funding to help New Zealanders become more aware of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

“We will put in place a programme that helps young New Zealanders better understand those rights, and better understand people who may be different to them,” says Paul Gibson, National Policy and Strategy Manager, CCS Disability Action.

CCS Disability Action has celebrated the Government’s work in this area so far but believes that New Zealand should not rest on its laurels and should instead continue to be a leader in disability rights by ratifying the Convention.

Today the United Nations announced the 20th country ratification which means the Convention will soon become an internationally legally binding document.

“The convention becoming law in New Zealand would have a profound effect on New Zealand society. It would certainly take the work we are planning with young New Zealanders further, helping them understand their future and making our society better prepared to include all people,” adds Paul Gibson.

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award will be formally presented to the New Zealand Government in a ceremony at the United Nations in May. Mike Gourley, DPA National President, will travel to New York as the lead organisation to accept the Roosevelt grant on behalf of DPA, CCS Disability Action and People First.

ENDS

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