Contact: Lisa Correnti, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), 202-393-7002, Lisa@c-fam.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today the U.S. Senate rejected ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), having been involved in the negotiations of the Disability treaty at the UN in 2006, alerted senators to numerous problems with the treaty, specifically its threat to unborn children and to U.S. sovereignty.

Despite its appealing name, the treaty attracted a variety of opponents as it was rushed through the U.S. Senate.  C-FAM, an organization focused on international social policy, briefed congressional staff on the legal and historical facts that make the Disability treaty unworthy of U.S. ratification, and unnecessary for the U.S. to continue being an effective advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities worldwide. 

Austin Ruse, President of Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, stated:

"The United States is the global leader in human rights promotion and practice. This fact does not change with the defeat in the U.S. Senate of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The U.S. will remain the global leader on human rights for persons with disabilities. Today's vote was a victory for human rights and for American sovereignty."

C-FAM's briefing to Congressional staff on the UN Disability Treaty can be found here.

(www.c-fam.org/docLib/Sovereignty%20caucus%20testimonyFInal.pdf)

For more infomation contact Lisa Correnti, Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), 202-393-7002, Lisa@c-fam.org