Disability rights treaty is stuck—let’s get it moving!
by Jennifer
For the past several years, Easter Seals and disability advocates have been working on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This treaty will not only benefit people outside of the United States, but will ensure that US travelers with disabilities can live, learn and work throughout the world. The President signed the treaty in 2009. The critical next step is for the U.S. Senate to vote to ratify it.
The last time the Senate voted, the CRPD had bipartisan support but fell just 6 votes shy of passage. Late last year, momentum for the treaty seemed to be building in our favor. Then right before the holidays, Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn), the ranking member on the key Senate Committee, stopped negotiations with Chairman Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). What a disappointment.
Easter Seals wants to see the treaty approved, and to do that, we need Senator Corker to come back to the table and work to that end. People with disabilities deserve this treaty to be approved. Please take a minute and weigh in with your Senator: tell them to approve the treaty.
Thanks.
January 14th, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Thank you all for your support. Keep on working to get the word out and I will let you know as soon as I have good news to share.
January 10th, 2014 at 1:29 pm
Thanks Jennifer for reminding us all of the importance of ratification of the CRPD. As I travel and work internationally I hang my head when we talk about the CPRD and the lack of positive action he United States has taken. The CPRD IS important!