US signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Posted by Carl Augusto on 8/5/2009 4:40:09 PM

Last week, as the representative from AFB and the North American/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union (WBU), I had the incredible opportunity to witness the United States signing on to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—the first new human rights convention of the 21st century adopted by the United Nations that further advances the human rights of the 650 million people with disabilities worldwide. Present at the signing were Susan Rice, the US Ambassador to the UN, Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, and a handful of other disability advocates.

Following the signing, both Ambassador Rice and senior advisor Jarrett spoke of President Obama's continual commitment to equality for people with disabilities—something we have witnessed and written about a number of times since Obama was sworn in as President. Ambassador Rice also announced that in the near future there will be a senior position within the State Department concerned with disability issues internationally. While I don't have much information on the position, I'll be sure to keep you posted with details as they are unveiled.

I'm thrilled and a bit relieved that the US finally signed on to the treaty (we were the 142nd country to sign, and I couldn't help but wonder what took us so long!). While it might be awhile before we see any official legislation coming from the treaty, since now it must be ratified by the Senate, the fact that 142 countries have expressed their commitment to people with disabilities clearly shows we are in a place in time where the rights of people with disabilities are more recognized worldwide.

You can read more about the treaty on the White House blog. What do you think about the news? Let me know in the comments section below.

Re: US signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Posted by Joel White on 8/17/2009 3:33:19 PM

I hope that things will change for the better concerning persons with disabilities. I also realize that only through education can this truely come about.

Re: US signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Posted by Jake Joehl on 8/14/2009 3:20:07 PM

Great news indeed! If only the ACB and NFB could reunite then that would be even better. Those of us with visual impairments I've been told have the highest unemployment/underemployment rate even among people with disabilities. I can't help but wonder if this is due in large part to the fact that our two organizations aren't working together for the most part. Someone once said that "a house divided cannot stand." If the NFB and ACB refuse to come to terms with each other on issues such as vocational rehabilitation, we're only going to continue this negative trend. A common view on blindness isn't even agreed upon, and to me that is very sad. It is sad that a lot of these people still think audio description is unnecessary and demeaning. It's sad that a lot of these people don't believe in the use and implementation of separate commissions for the blind which employ qualified and well-trained personnel to work with clients who are blind or visually-impaired. Not until these naysayers amongst the blindness community are willing to change their attitude, will people like me have a better outlook for our population.

Re: US signs UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Posted by Darla Mason [http://www.afb.org/blog/] on 8/13/2009 11:43:03 AM

I think this is fantastic!! Hopefully now the disabled will be recognized in more countries and looked upon as people and not as an accident or an outcast.

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