Pittsburgh hosts international disability rights conference
June 19th, 2009From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Disability rights leaders from the European Union and the United States met at the University of Pittsburgh last week to discuss a United Nations treaty and exchange information about disability access, information technology and transportation.
The UN’s disability rights convention has been signed by 139 countries and ratified by 57. The United States has neither signed nor ratified the treaty.
Marca Bristo, president of the U.S. International Council on Disabilities, took the nation to task for its lack of action on the treaty.
“The UN convention is an incredible opportunity to change the world, but many people in the U.S. don’t know what it is. We need to catch up,” she said, noting that President Barack Obama supports ratification.
“We have an important role to play. We have a lot to learn and a lot to give.”
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