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Mexico today called on Organization of American States (OAS) countries that have not yet done so to sign and ratify the Inter-American Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities, "to bring this important treaty into force as soon as possible."

Depositing the Mexican ratification documents with OAS Secretary General César Gaviria, Ambassador Claude Heller noted that "this is the first international treaty committing signatory countries to adopt concrete measures to guarantee persons with disabilities the same rights as the rest of society."

Adopted on June 7, 1999, in Guatemala City, the Convention will enter into force when six countries ratify. Besides Mexico, only Costa Rica and Argentina have so far ratified.

During the ceremony, the Mexican diplomat said the administration of President Vicente Fox had set up an Office of Promotion and Integration of Persons with Disabilities as well as a Citizens Commission on Discrimination Studies, to develop coordinated and comprehensive policies to fully integrate the disabled into every sector. Heller went on to state that "depositing this instrument of ratification is a significant boost to government efforts in this area."

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