A New Revised Disabilities Treaty

On July 22, 2014, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee adopted a new Resolution of ratification for the Disabilities Treaty. The Committee added 14 new provisions to the treaty in the form of Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations (RUDs).

- This resolution is significantly revised from that considered by the Senate in 2012. It contains all of the RUDs adopted by the SFRC in 2012 plus additional, important RUDs put forward by Senator Barrasso. Senator Barrasso authored important changes to the CRPD that address the two of the most frequently raised concerns by opponents of the treaty: protection of U.S. sovereignty and homeschooling. 

- Together these 14 new treaty provisions make this document a new, revised CRPD, one that addresses key problems that had been raised about the treaty and affords persons with disabilities independence, choice, dignity, and equal opportunity.

U.S. Sovereignty and Homeschooling Rights are Protected by the CRPD

- U.S. Sovereignty: New language has been added by Senator Barrasso that protects America’s Sovereignty. His amendment makes it clear that the United States is not obligated to take any action that the CRPD Committee recommends. 

- Homeschooling: The treaty now declares that nothing in the Disabilities Convention limits the rights of parents to homeschool their children.

Once added to the CRPD, these amendments become the law of the land and they cannot be severed from the treaty by any other nation or any part of the UN. These amendments address significant concerns that have been raised by opponents of the treaty and clear the way for ratification of the treaty.

For more information:
United States International Council on Disabilities
1012 14th St. NW, Suite 105 
Washington, DC 20005 
(202) 347-0102
www.usicd.org or www.disabilitytreaty.org