Source: USA to Sign CRPD | National Association of the Deaf
Submitted by NAD on Thu, 07/23/2009 - 13:41 On Friday, July 24, 2009, President Obama will acknowledge the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and announce his intention that the United States of America will sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Under the CRPD, governments are to recognize and promote the use of sign language; facilitate the learning of sign language and the promotion of the linguistic identity of the deaf community; and ensure access through the provision of professional sign language interpreters.
The CRPD was formally opened for signature at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on March 30, 2007. The CRPD is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century. Several NAD representatives, including Yerker Andersson, NAD board member during the previous term, Nancy Bloch, NAD chief executive officer, and Alexis Kashar, chair of the NAD civil rights committee, were on hand to witness that historical event.
“The NAD applauds President Obama’s announcement about the signing of the CRPD, which represents a shift from the medical to a human rights model of disability,” said Bobbie Beth Scoggins, president of the NAD. “In attendance at the White House on Friday will be NAD members Jeff Rosen, former general counsel and director of policy of the National Council on Disability and currently general counsel and vice president of governmental affairs at Snap!VRS, and Howard Rosenblum, senior attorney at Equip for Equality and chair of the NAD public policy committee.”
According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), “. . . linguistic and cultural viewpoints of Deaf people are strengthened by the Convention. The Convention is the first international treaty ever that recognizes sign languages and the linguistic human rights of deaf people.” The WFD is an international organization composed of 130 national associations of the deaf that, in collaboration with the United Nations, advances the human rights of deaf people worldwide. The NAD represents the United States at the General Assembly and World Congress of the WFD, which convenes every four years.
The President’s announcement indicates the country’s interest in signing the CRPD and begins a process in which the Senate will review and provide advice and consent for ratification. In concert with the WFD, the NAD strongly supports U.S. ratification of the CRPD. Susan Rice, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, is expected to sign the CRPD in a formal ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on July 30, 2009. The NAD will send representatives to witness this historic occasion.
