Help Disabled People Reclaim Their Dignity & Their Rights

People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority. In addition to their disabilities, they face tremendous discrimination, social stigma, and obstacles that prevent them from accessing the tools they need to succeed (imagine if your bank did not have a wheelchair ramp or there was no Braille on your ATM’s keypad.)

But you can help them reclaim their dignity by asking the Senate to stop dragging its feet and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of persons With Disabilities (CRPD) – a crucial treaty that will help ensure the rights of the hundreds of millions of people living with disabilities around the world.

The next step is for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to schedule a hearing on the CRPD. Our goal is send Senators Kerry and Lugar 10,000 letters by Friday, 6/29 to make sure they get this hearing on the calendar in June so people with disabilities can begin to build brighter futures.

Subject:

Your Letter:

Dear Senator:

As an Accion supporter, I am writing to urge you to please set a June hearing date for the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities.

As I’m sure you’re aware, last month, the Obama Administration submitted its treaty package to the Senate for its advice and consent for ratification where it was received with bipartisan support.

However, in order to get the CRPD to a floor vote of the Senate, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations must first hold a hearing and vote the treaty out of committee.

Moving the CRPD in this Congress is vital so that the U.S. may participate in the September elections for the CRPD Committee as this opportunity will not arise again for two years. Other direct benefits of ratification include:

Global leadership: Ratification provides the U.S. a unique opportunity to engage in substantive discussions in an international forum to provide our 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 our growing veteran population, live, work, travel, study, and retire outside the United States. As a ratifying party the United States can use the CRPD to encourage other countries to ratify and implement the instrument to achieve the high standard of accessibility that the United States has embraced, benefitting the millions of U.S. citizens abroad.

Advancing business interests: The CRPD is leveling the playing field for U.S. corporations by requiring businesses abroad to create policies on accessibility that meet ADA standards. Further, the CRPD’s implementation abroad will create demand for accessible goods that American businesses produce.

Please schedule a hearing date this month to get this important convention ratified without further delay.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Senator John Kerry

Chair, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

Senator Richard Lugar

Ranking Member, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations