Delegates still in deadlock two days before the close of the disabilities draft committee

August 24, 2006

(Manhattan, New York)—As delegates frantically scramble to finish the Convention on Persons with Disabilities just two days before the close of the 8th and final session of the Ad Hoc Drafting Committee, it is becoming ever more apparent that the ideological split amongst Member States regarding abortion cannot be breached.

With the United States standing firm by its refusal to add any language supporting an international right to abortion, it remains flanked with support from many Arab and South American nations, as well as the Holy See. The European Union remains defiant in demanding the addition of the language and continues to leverage the occupation language brought into the draft document this week to court Islamic States.

The Egyptian delegate now stands out as the key vote on the language as his vote will heavily influence how the Middle East and Africa vote. Coming into the Convention in favour of the U.S. position, the Egyptian delegate has since been showing signs of wavering and considering compromise.

The majority of Thursday saw informal meetings between delegates who are trying to hammer out the final language for the Convention. With the final day approaching, almost half of the Convention’s articles, including the most controversial, still need approval by the plenary.