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���������� Note: The following comes courtesy of ���������� Public Policy committee member and MHEP staffer Eva Dech who writes “this message is of urgent importance for disability rights. Please circulate in your organizations, and on emails lists and social media with which you’re connected.“

ACTION ALERT!

Demand the Removal of Limitations On U.S Commitment to

Implement Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities!

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“Ratify the CRPD. Remove the RUDs.”

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In a meeting held July 26th, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations gutted protections that could have been offered to people with disabilities in the United States. These protections are part of an international agreement (treaty) called ‘the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Adopted by the United Nations in 2008, and now with 117 countries participating, the Convention sets the bar for protecting and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities. It represents the collective conscience of the world community that persons with disabilities are entitled to a life of respect, dignity, self-determination and the support needed from society to access these things.

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The Senate Foreign Relations Committee declared that “current United States law fulfills or exceeds the obligations of the Convention.”�� The U.S government is saying that, the treaty would not require the government to change and strengthen our existing laws as to protect�� ALL Human Rights of ALL persons with disabilities.

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According to Senators, “We’re already way ahead of where the Disabilities Convention seeks to go. It simply requires and encourages other countries to come up to where we are.”

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OUR HUMAN RIGHTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY FULLY PROTECTED BY U.S. LAWS!

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SPEAK UP! CALL YOUR SENATORS!

Tell the Senate that current U.S. laws do not adequately protect the Human Rights of all persons with disabilities. Tell them you want the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities passed- WITHOUT Reservations, Understandings, and Declarations (RUDs) by our government that limits its legal obligations under the treaty:

• “The Senate declares that, in view of the reservations to be included in the instrument of ratification, current United States law fulfills or exceeds the obligations of the Convention for the United States.”��

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This declaration claims that any actions taken to improve U.S. existing laws would be a matter of political choice rather than legal obligations to comply with the CRPD. In essence, it removes any U.S responsibility to change their current laws or uphold any treaty mandates that aren’t already in place within the U.S federal law.

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Don’t wait. Call now. The full Senate is expected to vote on the Convention on TOMORROW, Thursday, August 2nd.

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To contact your Senators, it’s easy:

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NY Senators

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – (D – NY)������������ Class I

478 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510 (202) 224-4451

Web Form:

Schumer, Charles E. – (D – NY)������������ Class III

322 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510�� (202) 224-6542

Web Form:

1. Go to this link: Senators of the 112th Congress

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2. Choose a State.

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3. Your Senator’s phone, website and address will come up automatically.

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Human Rights

Know them. Demand them.

Defend them.

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