AUCD Urges Ratification of Disability Treaty; Rally to take place at US Capitol Today
July 25, 2013
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The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) supports those rallying today for their equal rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, rights embedded in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) - the Disability Treaty. The Rally takes place today on the West side of the Capitol at 12:45 p.m. ET.
The Disability Treaty establishes international standards regarding the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities and creates a common basis for greater civic and political participation, self-sufficiency, and independent living. CRPD ratification is important to AUCD because it aligns with our goal of achieving equal participation in all aspects of society for individuals with disabilities. This includes the freedom from abuse, neglect and torture still experienced by many people with disabilities around the world who are denied food and shelter and subject to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
Between 70-80% of women with disabilities will experience sexual abuse or domestic violence in their lifetimes. The Disability Treaty ensures that nations have laws in place to protect women with disabilities and U.S. participation can guide these laws. Ratifying the Disability Treaty will significantly enhance the position of the United States as a global leader in best practices to uphold basic human rights like freedom from abuse for women with disabilities.
The ratification of the CRPD would be a major step forward in the disability rights movement, demonstrating the serious commitment of the U.S. to disability rights, affording great protections, and opening up a whole new set of possibilities for concerted efforts within and between countries around the globe. The CRPD serves as a unifying call to action to improve the lives of people with disabilities around the world.
Ratification of the Disability Treaty has strong bi-partisan support, including support from Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), former senator Bob Dole (R-KS), and former president George H.W. Bush.
AUCD will continue to work nationally and internationally to ensure that individuals with disabilities all over the world are treated with dignity and respect. AUCD will continue to work with the Foreign Relations Committee, the full Senate, and partner organizations toward ensuring full ratification of the CRPD. For more news on the Disability Treaty, visit http://disabilitytreaty.org. For news and updates from the rally follow AUCD staff on Twitter at @kmusheno and @racheljpat.
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), located in Silver Spring, MD, promotes and supports a national network of interdisciplinary centers on disabilities. The members of AUCD represent every U.S. state and territory. AUCD and its members work to advance policy and practice through research, education, leadership, and services for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities. For more information, visit AUCD's website: www.aucd.org.
