UN Disability Convention: CRPD in the USA

Background on today's breaking news as President Obama prepares to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

The Obama administration can use the opportunity of signing and submitting to the Senate for ratification the Convention as a means of reaffirming the commitment of the United States rejoining the global community generally, and to continuing American leadership in the area of disability law and policy. Hence, action on the CRPD would signal support for the human rights efforts that we already fund and facilitate beyond our borders.  

Finally, the CRPD represents a break from the well-worn and misconceived Cold-War era split between economic, social, and cultural rights on the one hand, and civil and political rights on the other. In expressing the connections between different human rights, in part through the expression of the U.S. disability rights concept of reasonable accommodation, the Convention offers a new way to conceptualize the whole field of human rights.

On Friday 24 July, US President Barack Obama makes good on his election promise to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, bringing the USA into the group of countries that support this landmark document.

On behalf of ENAT, Mr. Ivor Ambrose, Managing Director, sent a letter of congratulation to President Obama, noting the example of the US in advancing disability rights, and expressing the importance of working internationally towards fulfilment of the Convention's Article 30, which addresses equal access to leisure and tourism.

The letter states: "Recognising the importance of the USA's example in promoting disabled access during the past two decades, Europe - as a co-signatory of the UN Declaration - looks forward to working together with US public, private and non-governmental organisations in pursuit of our shared goals, making the USA and the world accessible for all  tourists". 

The European Union has ratified the UN Declaration and many countries (though not all EU Member States) have also signed the Convention's 'optional protocol' which allows for disabled people to report grievances against their country to the UN Convention's Monitoring Committee. 

Celebrating the U.S. Signing of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

July 23, 2009

Chestertown, New York

The Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (CHRUSP) is proud to share the news that President Barack Obama will officially declare his intention to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at the White House on Friday, July 24, 2009.  President Obama's campaign promises included his commitment to sign and ratify the CRPD and we are very pleased that he is honoring his promise to sign the CRPD - a milestone in the advancement of the human rights of persons with disabilities in the United States. 

The United States has been a leader in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and by signing and ratifying the CRPD, US participation at the UN will contribute to the promotion of human rights for the more than 600 million persons with disabilities around the world. 

Tina Minkowitz, the President of the Board of CHRUSP, played a significant role in negotiations on the text of the CRPD in advocating for the rights of users and survivors of psychiatry as well as the rights of all persons with disabilities.  She was a leading member of the International Disability Caucus, the group of international disability rights activists that participated in the UN negotiations under the banner "Nothing About Us Without Us".

"We look forward to a speedy ratification without reservations, understandings or declarations, particularly ones addressed to specific rights or non-discrimination," said Ms. Minkowitz.  "We also look forward to continued progress in attending to human rights at home under this administration."

The actual signing of the treaty will take place at the UN headquarters where Susan Rice, the United States Ambassador to the UN, will officially sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on July 30, 2009 in New York City.

For further information, please contact:

Tina Minkowitz, 646-873-0224/518-494-0174

Myra Kovary, 607-277-3485

Tina Minkowitz, Esq.

Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry

44 Palmer Pond Rd.

Chestertown, NY  12817  USA

+1-518-494-0174

tminkowitz@earthlink.net