The UN has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

See here: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=26199&Cr=disab&Cr1=convention

Do you think it will make a difference

No. Not yet. But it is always good to see efforts continuing. Have a look at www.annecrafttrust.org and look at whats still happening in the UK today to people with learning disabilities and consider how far forward we are compared to some other countries.

Not sure why the UK's taking so long to ratify given that we signed up to the over a year ago.

More the slow machinery of government rather than any kind of conspiracy I imagine, but it's good to see the Equality and Human Rights Commission doing its job and giving the government a push on this.