Luisa Blanchfield, Coordinator
Specialist in International Relations
Cynthia Brougher
Legislative Attorney
James V. DeBergh
Legislative Attorney
During the 112th Congress, the Senate may consider providing its advice and consent to ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD, or the Convention). CRPD, which has been ratified or acceded to by 119 countries, is a multilateral agreement that addresses the rights of disabled persons. Its purpose is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities. The United States has signed, but not ratified, the Convention.
Generally, many U.S. policymakers, including President Obama and some Members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC), agree that existing U.S. laws and policies are compatible with CRPD. In fact, some CRPD provisions appear to be modeled after U.S. disability laws. The United States has historically recognized the rights of individuals with disabilities through various laws and policies, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended.
In July 2012, SFRC reported CPRD favorably to the full Senate, subject to certain conditions. If the Senate considers providing its advice and consent to ratification, CRPD’s impact on U.S. sovereignty may be a key issue of concern. For example, critics of the Convention maintain that treaties are the “supreme Law of the Land” under the Constitution, and that U.S. ratification of CRPD could supersede federal, state, and local laws. Supporters assert that CRPD is a nondiscrimination treaty that does not create new obligations. They contend that U.S. laws meet, and in some cases exceed, CRPD requirements. Debate may also center on the following issues:
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Role of the CPRD committee. Critics are concerned that decisions of
the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention’s monitoring
body, could deem U.S. laws to be in violation of CRPD and presume authority
over the private lives of U.S. citizens. Supporters, including the Obama Administration,
emphasize that committee decisions are non-binding under international and
domestic law.
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Possible impact on U.S. citizens and businesses abroad. Some CRPD proponents
contend that U.S. ratification may (1) improve the lives of U.S. citizens
with disabilities living, working, or traveling abroad, and (2) “level the playing
field” for U.S. companies that, unlike many of their foreign counterparts, already
comply with higher disability standards. The extent to which U.S. ratification
of CRPD may positively affect U.S. businesses or disabled U.S. citizens
living or traveling abroad remains unclear.
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Role in U.S. foreign policy. Supporters contend that U.S. ratification
may enhance U.S. credibility as it advocates the rights of persons with
disabilities globally. Opponents argue that existing U.S. laws and
policies are robust enough examples of U.S. commitment to the issue.
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Abortion. Some critics worry that the term “sexual and reproductive
health” in CRPD could be a euphemism for abortion. Supporters note that
the word “abortion” is never mentioned in CRPD and contend that no U.S
laws related to abortion would be created as a result of U.S.
ratification.
- Parental rights. Some are concerned that the U.S. ratification may give governments, and not U.S. parents, the right to make educational and treatmentrelated decisions for th Administration, hold that existing federal, state, and local laws protect parental rights.
Other issues that Senators may wish to consider include challenges to evaluating CRPD’s effectiveness, obstacles to CRPD implementation, and the role and participation of civil society in CRPD mechanisms.
For information on U.S. efforts to address the rights of persons with disabilities domestically, see CRS Report 98-921, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Statutory Language and Recent Issues, by Cynthia Brougher and James V. DeBergh.eir disabled children. Others, including the Obama
Date of Report: September 20, 2012
Number of Pages: 26
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