US Signs UN Disability Treaty

June 31, 2009

United Nations - In a landmark event, the United States signed a UN treaty on Thursday that will ensure that the world’s 650 million disabled individuals will enjoy equal rights and employment opportunity.

In a 32-page treaty called as the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, all forms of discrimination on the basis of physical and mental disability are considered unlawful.

With the passage of this pact, all US employers, regardless of the scale of their business, are prohibited to discriminate disabled workers in every employment aspect including promotion, hiring, and compensation.

The convention also obligates the government to provide disabled people with physical access to public facilities, transportation, medical facilities, public education, and workplaces.

During the ceremony held at the UN headquarter, US Ambassador Susan Rice who signed the truce said the government is “pleased to join the 141 other countries which have adopted the convention.”

Few years ago, the Bush administration has been criticized for not supporting the disability pact.

However, some aides of the former president explained that the UN convention was “insufficient and weak” and could even complicate the enforcement of the US Americans Disabilities Act of 1990.