[The United Nations conventions on the rights of persons with disabilities: which strategies for protection at work?].

More than 15% of the world's population lives with some form of moderate or severe disabilities, a growing percentage due to aging population as well as to the global increase of chronic diseases. The United Nations approved, in December 2006, the "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" which dealt with the theme "work and employment". It prohibited discrimination on the grounds of disability with regard to health and safety at work, ensuring safe and healthy working conditions including protection from harassment. The most important expectation for the UN Convention, ratified in Italy by law 18/2009, is the guarantee that disable people in the workplaces are provided with "reasonable accomodation". This term refers to modifications and adaptations which are necessary and appropriate, that do not foresee excessive costs, to be taken, where necessary, to ensure even workers with disabilities the enjoyment and exercise of all their rights.