Parentalrights.org has initiated a petition drive objecting to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The rights of American parents to determine their children's welfare and care would be overruled by an international standard if the U.S. Senate passes the treaty. ParentalRights.org writes:
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities threatens the right of parents to make decisions for their own children if either the parent or the child is disabled. Article 7 of the CRPD says, "In all actions concerning children with disabilities, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration."
International law expert Geraldine Van Bueren of the University of London accurately summarizes the application of this standard when she writes, "Best interests provides decision and policy makers with the authority to substitute their own decisions for either the child's or the parents', providing it is based on considerations of the best interests of the child." Ratification of CRPD will allow government officials to determine what is best for a child, even if fit and loving parents disagree.
Ratification would also be the first time the United States has ratified a treaty whose primary aim is to impact domestic policy, and the first time that entitlements would be established as economic, social, and cultural rights in America.
The groups asks parents to add their names to the petition(s) to stop ratification of this treaty in the United States.
Disability Petition: If you or a family member lives with a disability, please sign this petition. Key disability organizations are pushing for ratification. Please let the Senate know these organizations don't speak for all families with disabilities.
Veterans Petition: If you are a veteran, sign this veterans' petition. Key veterans organizations are pushing for ratification. Please let the Senate know these organizations do not speak for all veterans - they do not speak for you!
General Petition: Please sign the general petition in opposition, whether or not you qualify to sign one of the petitions above.
Proponents of this treaty have worked hard to communicate to the Senate that everyone in America wants this treaty ratified. We must rally enough voices to let them know this is simply not the case. We do not want government babysitters. We want to preserve parental rights and American self-government.
