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National Council on Independent Living |
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Not Just Responding To Change, But Leading It! |
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Action Hub
2007 NCIL Resolution: Calling on the United States to Sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
WHEREAS, historically, persons with disabilities have been marginalized, stigmatized, and deprived of opportunities and freedoms afforded to individuals without disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a landmark treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on December 13 2006, to promote and protect the rights of the world’s 650 million Disabled people; and
WHEREAS, the Convention will require ratifying nations “to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity” and promote awareness of the capabilities of those who have disabilities; and
WHEREAS, over 80 nations worldwide signed the Convention on March 30, 2007, but the United States has not yet signed the treaty nor provided any official explanation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Council on Independent Living fully supports the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and will communicate this support to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Alejandro D. Wolff.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Council on Independent Living will actively pursue a commitment from the United States to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and recommit ourselves as a country to human rights, empowerment and independent living for all people with disabilities of the world.
ACTION ALERT: Help Build Support for the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities
On Friday, March 30, countries around the world had the opportunity to sign the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities, the first international convention to comprehensively address the rights of people with disabilities. While 81 countries proudly signed the Convention document at the signing ceremony at the United Nations, the United States refused to sign and did not even have the courtesy to send a delegate to the ceremony despite the U.S.'s historic role as a leader in the field of disability and human rights.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: You can help generate grassroots support to urge President Bush and the Administration to sign this critical international human rights document. Encourage your local and state governmental bodies and organizations to pass resolutions endorsing the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities.
The City Council of Santa Cruz, California was the first to pass a resolution in support of the Convention. The County of Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors, and the City and County of San Francisco are drafting resolutions to support international human rights.
WHEN TO ACT: Now!
WHO: Check the blue pages in the front of your local phone book, or go to http://www.whitepages.com. Once on whitepages.com, under the “Business Category” section enter “government into the search field. Then simply enter your city and state and you will get quite a list of offices.
Here are some examples of people who might be appropriate for you to contact in your community to help generate grassroots support for the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities:
1. Local city, county, town, and other municipal offices.
2. Local, state, and national organizations that focus on civil and human rights.
3. Local disability boards and commissions.
WHAT TO DO:
1. CALL the offices of these local and state governments, commissions, boards, and organizations and ask to speak to the staff erson who handles policy or public affairs.
2. TELL THEM: You are disappointed that the United States did not sign the UN Convention on Human Rights for Persons with Disabilities at the signing ceremony on March 30, and you want to ensure that the US actively participates in the quest for international human rights.
You believe that they can play a leadership role in convincing the President and Administration to sign the Convention. The Convention is consistent with and reinforces American values and principles. The US is proud of the progress made since passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.
Other local governments have begun to pass resolutions in support of the Convention. You are able to provide them provide them a sample resolution that the City of Santa Cruz approved, the full text of which follows below and is available online:
www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/council/resolution/Reso%2027,454.pdf,
4. SEND information about your successful attempts made to Sylvia Caras, a Representative on the International Disability Caucus Steering Committee for the North America Region, who is keeping track of these efforts, at sylvia@peoplewho.org.
MORE INFORMATION: The text of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is available on the United Nation’s Web site:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
For information on the background of the Convention, including how it was negotiated, and the signature and ratification process, please read the Disabled Peoples' International online Ratification Toolkit: http://www.icrpd.net
EXAMPLE RESOLUTION FOLLOWS:
RESOLUTION NO. NS-
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ SUPPORTING THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
WHEREAS, historically, persons with disabilities have been marginalized, stigmatized and deprived of opportunities and freedoms afforded to individual without disabilities; and
WHEREAS, on December 13, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a landmark treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to promote and protect the rights of the world's 650 million disabled people; and
WHEREAS, the Convention was the most rapidly negotiated human rights treaty in the history of international law; and
WHEREAS, the Convention is the first human rights treaty of the 21st century; and
WHEREAS, the Convention will require ratifying nations "to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity" and promote awareness of the capabilities of those who are disabled; and
WHEREAS, the Convention also requires governments to fight stereotypes of people with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Convention also recognizes that attitudes need to change if disabled people are to achieve equality; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Cruz quickly complied with the regulations for governments when the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990; and
WHEREAS, in the 2000 Census, 7,800 City residents reported a disability, which is approximately 15 percent of the City's total population.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the Cityof Santa Cruz that it supports this Convention, endorses equality of opportunity, and will continue to be responsive to and inclusive of people with disabilities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby authorize the Mayor to communicate the City's support of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Alejandro D. Wolff and urge ratification of the Convention by the United States.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of January, 2007.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
DISQUALIFIED:
APPROVED: ________________________ ATTEST: _______________________
Mayor City Clerk
This information is being distributed as a benefit to NCIL members. Please feel free to communicate this alert to the people your organization serves.
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