Two representatives from China last week attended the Seventh Session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in New York to address the rights and needs of disabled children.

With the support of Save the Children, Shi Yanxia and Yao Yue will join other representatives from the UK and Bangladesh and speak on the rights of disabled children.

Before leaving China, Yao Yue commented "we expect to
bring forward the difficulties experienced by disabled children in terms of access to education, rehabilitation and employment to attract the attention of the participants."

The conference aims to discuss the draft of the Convention, which will become the first International Convention developed by UN specifically for people with disabilities; following two sessions in January and August 2006
respectively, it will be submitted to the 61st UN General Assembly for approval.

Yao Yue, a colleague of Shi Yanxia, indicated that the priority for disabled young people is usually a reliable job. For disabled children, early access to rehabilitation and education will allow more space and opportunities for their development and future career prospect.