SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF THE CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (CRPD)!

Senate Unilaterally Exempts U.S. from International Disability Requirements

In a meeting yesterday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations dismantled protections intended for the disability community in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is being considered for ratification by the full Senate. The Senate’s actions operated to deprive United States citizens with disabilities of the full benefit of international standards. 

While some of us who are activists in the area of parental rights have been concerned that the treaty would somehow limit our parental rights as parents of children with disabilities, let me say right away that this simply is not the case.  In no way would this resolution limit our parent rights.  Statements to the contrary are simply incorrect and represent a completely wrong headed attempt to undercut this vital international treaty which safeguards the rights of people with disabilities both in America and throughout the world.

In yesterday's meeting – enroute to voting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities out of committee - it took the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations less than two hours to dismantle the protections offered the disability community by this treaty. In a demonstration of what some are describing as arrogance, Senators simply declared that “current United States law fulfills or exceeds the obligations of the Convention.” They also approved a number of additional reservations, understandings and declarations (called RUDs). The combined effect is to deprive people with disabilities in the United States of the benefits of the treaty's standards by limiting United States obligations to enforcing current law and periodic reporting.


The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international treaty ratified by 117 nations. The treaty sets forth comprehensive and integral international standards aimed at protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. A monumental undertaking of international faith and goodwill, the treaty follows decades of effort by thousands of members of the disability community from numerous countries worldwide to change attitudes and approaches impacting persons with disabilities.


The rationale for the Committee's action? To quote Committee Chair Senator John Kerry: “We’re already way ahead of where the Disabilities Convention seeks to go. It simply requires and encourages other countries to come up to where we are.”


“This is outrageous,” says Daniel Hazen, a long-time proponent of Convention and the current director of Voices of the Heart, a human rights organization in the disability sector. Hazen observes: “My rights personally have been violated on numerous occasions. Every day, we hear from people whose rights are being violated within the realms of current law."


Human rights lawyer and disability leader Tina Minkowitz played a key role in drafting the Convention and is considered an expert on its provisions. According to Minkowitz, “The Senate restrictions adopted yesterday appear to mean that the U.S. is disclaiming the obligation to work towards full implementation in the areas where state and federal law do not meet the CRPD standards. This stance is incompatible with the object and purpose of the treaty and should be rejected by other countries that are parties to the CRPD.”


Sarah Knutson, a disability rights advocate from New York, remarks: “It’s ironic that all this occurred on the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. That was a landmark piece of legislation that genuinely changed people’s lives for the better. But, let’s not get so full of ourselves that we refuse to even look at what the international community has to offer. How can we say we lead the world in an area when we won’t even hold ourselves to the same standards that are being asked of everyone else?”

The full Senate is expected to vote on U.S. ratification of the Treaty as early as July 31st.

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For further information contact:

Voices of the Heart, Inc.
http://www.voicesoftheheart.net/
Daniel Hazen 518-932-3137
voicesdirector@gmail.com