Immense and towering, the United Nations (UN) building is a key landmark on the East Side of Manhattan. But aside from creating traffic when the President, Senators, and other VIPs visit, how does the UN affect our daily lives?

One big way is through conventions – relating to civil, social, political, economic and cultural rights. Once the UN creates a convention governments in support of it ‘sign on,’ after which the convention must then be ‘ratified.’ (Signing on is more an act of good faith; ratification creates an actual legal obligation for governments to implement and uphold the convention.)

This month – for the second year running – the U.S. will vote to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). (Last year’s vote was not successful.)

The CRPD dates back to 2006. Its key principles are autonomy, freedom, and non-discrimination. And it created a paradigm shift that focuses on what a person is capable of doing, versus what a person is not capable of doing. It also claims that societal barriers make people disabled and prevent people from living the lives they envision for themselves.

Once ratified, the CRPD would require governments to pass and/or change laws and regulations to promote full, effective and equal participation in society without any barriers. Its implementation would affect our work in many direct ways, including by:

• Repealing local/federal discriminative laws
• Eliminating guardianship
• Implementing supported-decision making
• Making involuntary commitment and compulsory treatment human rights violations
• Increasing opportunities for affordable housing, supported employment, healing, and education, etc.

Get Involved

We can see meaningful and effective implementation of these principles and practices if the U.S. ratifies the convention without reservations, understanding or declarations (RUDs). Check out this Mad in America blog post (by Tina Minkowitz) for more info.

And YOU can play an important role in support of ratification by signing this online petition.

Human Rights Now, Human Rights for All!!!