Elder Law

US Disrespects UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities

By Harry Margolis

My friend and colleague, Louis Pierro, forwarded a blog posting from John A. Lancaster, the Executive Director of the National Council on Independent Living about his appearance at the initial signing of the UN Convention of Persons with Disabilities on March 30th.  Lou found it quite disturbing as did I.  Here's part of what Mr. Lancaster wrote:

As I sat in the observers' area on the floor of the UN's General Assembly Hall, delegates from 80 nations and the European Community took their turn at the official signing table to commit their country to the human and civil rights of people with disabilities.  At several points, my eyes welled with tears.  They should have been tears of joy and pride as an American, as a citizen in the country that had created this world-wide movement for the rights and empowerment of people with disabilities.  Instead, they were tears of shame and embarrassment in being an American.

...

The UN General Assembly Hall was full; the observer galleries were packed with disabled advocates from around the world; and delegations from UN member nations huddled behind their respective desks and country signs.  After initial speeches, one-by-one in alphabetical order, the delegations from the various signing nations filed to the ceremonial table to sign the treaty books.  In some cases, it was that country's ambassador to the UN.  In the case of Ecuador, Vice President Lenin Moreno Garces, a wheelchair user, signed.  Even the countries who were not signing at least had representatives from their UN Mission present and sitting at their country table out of respect for the UN processes and the historic importance of the occasion, all but the United States.

...

I was ashamed of my country and of myself for letting it happen.  Please join me in recommitting ourselves as advocates and leaders to human rights, empowerment and independent living for all peoples of the world.  Write your Senators and President Bush today urging that the US sign and ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

This story reminds me of Hubert Humphrey's famous quote about the moral test of government policy:  It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.

Full post as published by Elder Law Answers on April 10, 2007 (boomark / email).