Malta, one of the 11 EU member states yet to ratify the UN convention on disability rights, says it intends to do so this year.

All 27 EU member states have signed up to the treaty, which establishes basic equality rights for disabled people. However, only 16 have actually put it in place.

While confirming that Malta is still in the process of ratification despite signing the convention in March 2007, a spokesman for the Family Ministry said the government’s intention was to put the convention into practice this year.

“Malta is making the necessary arrangements to enable ratification of the Convention,” a ministry spokesman said.

He said the ministry was working closely with the National Commission For Persons With Disability on amendments to the law so that it would reflect the Convention, following the presentation of a report by an inter-ministerial committee appointed by the Prime Minister.

The convention commits parties to making sure that disabled people enjoy rights equal to all other citizens. Ratifying countries should take action in various areas, including access to education, employment, transport, infrastructure and buildings open to the public, granting the right to vote, improving political participation and ensuring full legal capacity of all people with disabilities.

Countries must report back to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on measures taken to implement the Convention.

The Committee, composed of independent experts, would then highlight any shortcomings in the Convention’s implementation and make recommendations.

It is estimated there are about 80 million EU citizens with some form of known disability.