Compiled by LeNell Heywood
“Children are treated much, much better in the special needs setting whenever their parents have real and certain rights. Those rights are gone if this Senate ratifies this treaty.”
— Michael Farris
From Concerned Women for America
http://www.cwalac.org/printer_1189.shtml
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is a treaty that undermines U.S. sovereignty. Despite its name, it does little to advance the needs of people with disabilities. This treaty is unnecessary and will surrender American power into the hands of a foreign entity.
Overview:
- Americans with disabilities are already protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal laws.
- America is already the leading example for the world, providing freedom and justice for persons with disabilities.
- Advocates of the Treaty argue that if the U.S. signs on it will send a strong message to other countries to do the same.
- Those opposed to the Treaty understand the error of signing onto a Treaty where U.S. power is emasculated.
Excerpts from Michael Farris’ address to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
http://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/REVISED_Michael_Farris_Testimony.pdf
The way for the United States to continue to lead the world in this area is to ensure that American law and practice live up to the promises of the Declaration of Independence rather than the amorphous standards of a committee of 18 experts in Geneva.
The UNCRPD follows the trend of the second generation of human rights treaties which promote the idea that government, not parents, have the ultimate voice in decisions concerning their children.
Early human rights instruments were very supportive of the rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
All of the rights that parents have under both traditional American law and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will be undermined by this treaty.
Children are treated much, much better in the special needs setting whenever their parents have real and certain rights.
Those rights are gone if this Senate ratifies this treaty.
Americans should make the law for America—we do not need a committee of experts in Geneva to look over our shoulders to help us determine what kind of policy we need to best protect Americans with special needs and disabilities.
It was American self-government and not international law that led to the significant advancements that this nation has seen in the appropriate law and policies concerning persons with disabilities.
International law has no track record of success that could lead any reasonable person to believe that international law would have any claim of superiority over American self-government.
We should pass whatever laws we need to ensure proper policies and practices for Americans with disabilities. But we should not give away our policy prerogatives to the superintendence of a committee of UN experts sitting in Geneva.
Treaty Text:
http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
Be aware that the UN has its own language. Reading these documents having never read them before might not raise any red flags. We know from experience how the mere mention of treating people equally, especially in “developing nations” can mean a mandate to the wealthy nations to redistribute their funds to those nations, either through more foreign aid (hidden international tax) or through a direct international tax, which has been on the table for some time.
UT Senator Mike Lee is trying to stop this! Please thank him! UT Senator Hatch voted yes on the Motion to Proceed after committing to Senator Lee that he would vote no. Senator Hatch needs to hear from you.
The vote for ratification is tomorrow.
Please read this information and contact your U.S. Senators today (number and locator link below) and pass it on. The vote will take place tomorrow at noon.
Ask them to oppose UNCRPD (U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
Find your senators here:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
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The author of this blog thanks LeNell Heywood for compiling this information.
COMMON CORE 