AUCD Applauds Senate Foreign Relations Committee For Holding Hearing on Disability Treaty
July 12, 2012
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The Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) applauds the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for holding a hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The hearing is a major step toward ratification of the CRPD.
The CRPD 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. The ratification of the CRPD is important to AUCD, not only for the above reasons, but also because it aligns with our goal of achieving equal participation in all aspects of society for individuals with disabilities. This includes the freedom to travel abroad to other countries and being protected from discriminatory actions and policies abroad as well as domestically.
"The ratification of the CRPD would be a major step forward in the disability rights movement, not only because it demonstrates the serious commitment of the U.S. to disability rights, but also because it would afford great protections and provide a whole new set of possibilities for concerted efforts within and across countries. The CRPD can serve as a unifying call to action to improve the lives of people with disabilities around the world," said George Jesien, PhD, Executive Director of AUCD.
AUCD works nationally and internationally to ensure that individuals with disabilities all over the world are treated with dignity and respect. AUCD looks forward to working with the Committee, the full Senate, and partner organizations toward full ratification of the CRPD.
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.
