TREATY SIGNED

U.S. Joins 141 Nations on Disability Rights

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By Angela Miele Melledy

Disability advocates applauded as Ambassador Susan Rice signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on behalf of the U.S. Government, at the direction of U.S. President Barack Obama, July 30.

Obama announced the signing at the White House days before saying, “This extraordinary treaty calls on all nations to guarantee rights like those afforded under the ADA. It urges equal protection and equal benefits before the law for all citizens; reaffirms the inherent dignity and worth and independence of all persons with disabilities worldwide.”

After adding her signature, Rice said, “This treaty, as you all know, is the first new human rights convention of the 21st century adopted by the United Nations and further advances the human rights of the 650 million people with disabilities worldwide. It urges equal protection and equal benefits under the law for all citizens, it rejects discrimination in all its forms, and calls for the full participation and inclusion in society of all persons with disabilities.”

Senior Advisor to the president Valerie Jarrett, who went to New York from the White House for the event and looked on as Rice signed the document, said, “I am thrilled to be joining Ambassador Rice on this occasion, as the United States takes this historic step toward advancing our global commitment to fundamental human rights for all persons with disabilities. Last week, the president took a bold step forward for our country and announced that the United States of America would sign the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

Jarrett also announced the creation of a new senior level position at the State Department to deal with disability human rights issues. This person will spearhead the strategy to promote the rights of persons with disabilities internationally, lead the coordination among federal agencies as the administration makes the push for quick ratification of the convention in the Senate, and will work to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities are addressed in international conflict and disaster- relief situations.

gning were Carl Augusto, president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind; Marca Bristo, president and CEO, Access Living and chair of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities; Matthew Sap-olin, commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities; Akiko Ito, chief, Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs; William Kennedy Smith, president and founder of the Center for International Rehabilitation; Ann Cody, director of Policy and Global Outreach for Blaze-Sports America; Marjorie Tiven, commissioner of the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol; Jessica Neuwirth, director of the New York Office for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Patricia O’Brien, chief legal advisor for the U.N.

“The convention has impact on 650 million people worldwide and the signature will commence the steps toward ratification,” said Bristo.

The U.S. was the 142nd country to sign on to the treaty. The Bush administration officially maintained that since the U.S. had the Americans with Disabilities Act in place it was unnecessary to sign on to the International Convention. Some speculate it was Bush’s commitment to the business community and struggle over the ADA Restoration Act that kept him from signing.

“This was the most rapidlynegotiated treaty, with the most first-day signatories, in United Nations history,” said Smith. “By joining this treaty, the United States is embracing an important effort by the international community and regaining leadership in an arena where the United States has traditionally set the benchmark. President Obama deserves all the credit in the world for his initiative on this issue.”

Patrick Ventrell, Information Officer at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in New York, contributed to this piece.