UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a pivotal international human rights treaty. Its primary aim is to safeguard the rights and dignity of individuals with disabilities. Countries that ratify this Convention commit to promoting and protecting the entire exercise of human rights by persons with disabilities, ensuring their complete equality under the law. The Convention has been instrumental in the global movement advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. It marks a significant shift in perspective, moving away from viewing persons with disabilities as subjects of charity, medical treatment, and social protection. Instead, it recognizes them as full and equal members of society, entitled to human rights. As the first UN treaty on human rights of the 21st century, it was ratified in Bulgaria by a law adopted by the 41st National Assembly on January 26, 2012 and came into force in April of the same year.
Critical to Deaf communities worldwide is Article 21 of the convention, which focuses on 'Freedom of expression and opinion, freedom of access to information'. It asserts that individuals with disabilities have the right to express themselves and freely exchange information and ideas through all forms of communication, including Bulgarian Sign Language (BGSL). .