Approved by the NCIL membership July, 2007
WHEREAS, historically, persons with disabilities have been marginalized, stigmatized, and deprived of opportunities and freedoms afforded to individuals without disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a landmark treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on December 13 2006, to promote and protect the rights of the world’s 650 million Disabled people; and
WHEREAS, the Convention will require ratifying nations “to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity” and promote awareness of the capabilities of those who have disabilities; and
WHEREAS, over 80 nations worldwide signed the Convention on March 30, 2007, but the United States has not yet signed the treaty nor provided any official explanation.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: that the National Council on Independent Living fully supports the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and will communicate this support to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and the Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations, Alejandro D. Wolff.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the National Council on Independent Living will actively pursue a commitment from the United States to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and recommit ourselves as a country to human rights, empowerment and independent living for all people with disabilities of the world.
Submitted by: Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago
