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Human Rights Council Thank you, Mr. President. The United States welcomed the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the General Assembly last December. We congratulate all those involved in the process, including Ambassador Don MacKay of New Zealand, Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, and many others from governments, international organizations, and civil society. We were pleased to participate actively in the Ad Hoc Committee’s work, including by providing information on our national law and policy – such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and President Bush’s New Freedom Agenda – as well as on our foreign assistance programs related to disabilities. There is much to be proud of in the Convention. It is based on respect for the inherent dignity and worth of all persons with disabilities. It contains strong provisions on a variety of important issues, including equality and non-discrimination, political participation, access to justice, accessibility, health, the crucial role of family, and end of life issues. Our question for the panel: how can the constructive role played by civil society throughout the negotiation process serve as a lesson for our work here and elsewhere in the United Nations system?
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