Tonga has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Tonga’s UN Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Viliami Vaʻinga Tōnē, deposited the instrument of ratification with the United Nations on 4 September.
He said it was a milestone in Tonga’s commitment to advancing the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
The Instrument of Ratification was signed by King Tupou VI on 21 August 2026, following the completion of Tonga’s national processes.
Ambassador Tōnē stated, “It was deposited together with an accompanying declaration and reservations reflecting Tonga’s unique and special circumstances as a small island developing State, the needs of its people and relevant provisions of its domestic laws.”
“The ratification represents an important step forward for Tonga and reflects the Kingdom’s determination to promote a more inclusive society in which persons with disabilities can participate fully and equally, while recognising the country’s particular national circumstances and the need for implementation that is both effective and responsive to the realities of its people.”
He stated that the treaty action also carries wider significance for Tonga’s enduring commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and the rules-based international system.
It reinforces the inclusion and sustainable development pillars of the United Nations agenda and advances the central pledge of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind.