Show Your Commitment to Liberty and Justice Around the World, America
If the U.S. doesn't ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it contradicts our commitment to human rights around the world.
Dear Senators:
We, American citizens who are deaf-blind and supporters of equality, join our fellow citizens with disabilities,
including disabled veterans who fought to protect our great nation and preserve human
life, dignity and liberty, in support of the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities. When America enacted the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), it showed the world that the United States is a beacon of liberty and
equality and that Americans of all political persuasions do not permit political
beliefs to prevail over the nation's enduring commitment to the rights of every child,
woman and man around the world. And when our elected members of Congress once again
stood united by enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility
Act of 2010, American showed the world that it remains a global leader on disability
rights.
But America's leadership is under serious threat because some believe we should not
embrace disability rights around the world by ratifying the Convention. They cite
concerns about the potential for the Convention to undermine the rights of parents
of disabled children to provide home schooling. Others point to the Convention's
endorsement of abortion, even if it accepts nations that outlaw the practice as parties.
But the truth is, the Convention simply seeks to extend the ADA beyond the borders
of America by recognizing that persons with disabilities have the same rights as
everyone else in the entire world. For this reason, we respectfully reject these
unfounded claims, and urge that all Americans put aside their political beliefs in
support of disability rights around the world. After all, we are "one Nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Please ratify the Convention and stand for the rights of persons with disabilities
in our country and around the world. Rejecting the Convention will call into question
America's claim to support human rights around the world, and will send a message
to every child, woman and man that we do not care about disability rights outside
the United States of America. Thank you.
We, American citizens who are deaf-blind and supporters of equality, join our fellow citizens with disabilities,
including disabled veterans who fought to protect our great nation and preserve human
life, dignity and liberty, in support of the United Nations Convention on the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities. When America enacted the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), it showed the world that the United States is a beacon of liberty and
equality and that Americans of all political persuasions do not permit political
beliefs to prevail over the nation's enduring commitment to the rights of every child,
woman and man around the world. And when our elected members of Congress once again
stood united by enacting the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility
Act of 2010, American showed the world that it remains a global leader on disability
rights.
But America's leadership is under serious threat because some believe we should not
embrace disability rights around the world by ratifying the Convention. They cite
concerns about the potential for the Convention to undermine the rights of parents
of disabled children to provide home schooling. Others point to the Convention's
endorsement of abortion, even if it accepts nations that outlaw the practice as parties.
But the truth is, the Convention simply seeks to extend the ADA beyond the borders
of America by recognizing that persons with disabilities have the same rights as
everyone else in the entire world. For this reason, we respectfully reject these
unfounded claims, and urge that all Americans put aside their political beliefs in
support of disability rights around the world. After all, we are "one Nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Please ratify the Convention and stand for the rights of persons with disabilities
in our country and around the world. Rejecting the Convention will call into question
America's claim to support human rights around the world, and will send a message
to every child, woman and man that we do not care about disability rights outside
the United States of America. Thank you.
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