Advocacy alert
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities CRPD
CRPD stands for the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities and is a treaty that
describes the obligations of ratifying
countries to promote, protect, fulfill
and ensure the rights of persons with
disabilities. The treaty embodies the
American ideals that form the basis
of the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) empowering persons with
disabilities to be independent and
productive citizens. On July 30,
2009, the U. S signed the
Convention on the Right of Persons
with Disabilities. The CRPD is the
first international treaty to address
disability rights globally.
Why should the US ratify CRPD?
Ratification by the Senate would show the serious committeemen of the U.S. to
disability rights. Direct benefit of U.S. ratification includes:
 Global leadership – This is an opportunity for the U.S. to engage in
substantive discussion in an international forum to provide guidance and
expertise to other countries who are adopting the laws necessary to
implement the treaty.
 Protecting U.S. citizens abroad – Americans with disabilities, including
veterans, live, work, travel, study and retire outside the U. S. As a ratifying
partner, the U.S. can use the CRPD to encourage other countries to ratify
and achieve a higher standard of accessibility that the U.S has already
embraced benefiting our citizens abroad.
 Business interests – The CRPD is leveling the playing field of U.S.
corporations by requiring businesses abroad to create policies on
accessibility that meet the ADA standards. CRPD implementation abroad
will create a demand for accessible goods that American businesses
produce.
Does the CRPD create a new area for litigation? Are the costs?
No. The US had traditionally ratified other human rights treaties with a non selfexecuting declaration like this one has. There is no cost involved. This is
simply an opportunity to stand for the rights of persons with disabilities and claim
the accomplishments of U. S. law and policy. The CRPD does not require any
changes in U.S. law.
Advocacy alert
Update on the CRPD Ratification Process
In May 2012, the Administration transmitted the treaty to the Senate for its advice
and consent for ratification. U.S. ratification of the Convention requires a
“resolution of ratification” achieved by 2/3 support (67 supermajority vote) in
Senate
On December 4th, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
came to a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Despite bipartisan
leadership on the issue and the support of the disability and veteran
community, the Senate failed to achieve the super-majority vote. It lost by a
mere 5 votes. There has been immense media coverage following the vote,
expressing the public's outrage at Senate's failure to pass the disability treaty.
John McCain testified and voted in favor of CRPD. Senator Jon Kyl was one of
five senators that voted against it. How will Senator Jeff Flake vote next time?
What's Next?
Senators Reid has stated that he plans to bring the CRPD up again this winter.
Contact:
Senator John McCain and thank him for his YES vote on CRPD.
(202) 224-2235
Newly elected Senator Jeff Flake and ask him to commit to
voting YES on CRPD when it come up for a vote again in the
Senate early this year. (202) 224-4521
To email Arizona Senators go to www.senate.gov
***Note - Don’t underestimate the opposition! Some senators reported getting
20 calls against CRPD to 1 in favor during this last vote. We need to do better!
Look for updates through ABIL’s Empower listserv or Facebook page.
For more information and to Take Action go to:
http://usicd.org/index.cfm/crpdupdates
Taken from the U.S. International Council on Disabilities website www.usicd.org
Fact Sheet contact: Amina Kruck, VP Advocacy Program aminak@abil.org, 602-443-0722