The Hidden Cost of a UN Interpretation of New UN Treaty
Posted on | September 11, 2012 by Wendy Wright |
Will ratifying the newest UN human rights treaty place additional financial burdens on the U.S., international institutions and others?
Advocates are heavily lobbying the U.S. to ratify the newest UN human rights treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability. Some promise U.S. decision-makers that ratification will not change anything domestically, but will merely give the U.S. moral authority to influence other countries.
However, moments ago the legal representative for the Office of High Commissioner on Human Rights indicated otherwise. Craig Mokhiber spoke at the UN headquarters on the opening panel of a Forum for Civil Society on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
He highlighted the CRPD’s obligations upon countries, stressing that a financial crisis is not an excuse for not meeting the obligations. In what may come as a surprise to leaders who are grappling with crushing financial crisis in their countries, Mr. Mokhiber said the treaty’s reference to “resources available” refers not just to national resources but to resources in the international community.
In other words, the UN’s Human Rights office believes international institutions and countries are responsible for funding other countries’ compliance with the Disability treaty.
