Cautious Optimism as Talks on UN Disability Treaty Near End

See this official dispatch by that title. It begins:

The chair of the negotiations on a new United Nations convention to protect the rights of persons with disabilities said he was confident that a deal could be reached, despite several key differences between Member States as the talks entered their final day.

Ambassador Don MacKay of New Zealand said many of the participants meeting at UN Headquarters in New York remained confident that an agreed text could be achieved by tonight.

“We are definitely within striking distance,” he said. “I think it will be finalized.”

The Coordinator of the International Disability Caucus, Maria Veronica Reina, said she was also cautiously optimistic.

“Even though the last mile is the most difficult mile, we are almost there,” she said.