Support Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Recipient: U.S. Senate

Dear Senator:

On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 210 national organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States, we urge you to support U.S. ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The treaty embodies the American ideals that form the basis of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which has served as model legislation for ending discriminatory practices throughout the world and a key inspiration for the CRPD.

The CRPD seeks to ensure that countries across the globe provide people with disabilities the same rights as everyone else, in order to live full, satisfying and productive lives. To this end, the CRPD will create greater access for Americans serving, working, traveling, and studying abroad. The Leadership Conference believes that ratification is critical to promoting the ADA’s and CRPD’s shared principles of equality, non-discrimination, inclusion in society, accessibility, and  respect for inherent dignity of persons with disabilities in the United States. Furthermore, ratification of the treaty will reflect U.S. commitment to disability rights and core American values such as the dignity of the individual, access to justice, and the right to education.

The Leadership Conference is committed to ensuring that our country maintains its leadership role in promoting the rights and dignity of all people with disabilities. We believe that ratification of the CRPD will allow the U.S. to continue its legacy of global leadership on disability rights. We therefore urge the Senate to continue the bipartisan tradition of supporting human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities, by uniting in support of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact June Zeitlin at  [email protected] or 202-263-2852 or Sakira Cook at [email protected] or 202-263-2894.

Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,

Wade Henderson
President & CEO

Nancy Zirkin
Executive Vice President