U.S. Won't Sign U.N. Disability Rights Treaty
UNITED NATIONS, June 19, 2003 -- The United States will not sign an international treaty protecting people with disabilities from discrimination, a United Nations committee was told Wednesday.
Ralph Boyd, U.S. assistant attorney general for civil rights, told the committee which is drafting a treaty on world-wide disability rights, that the United States would support the panel in its work, but would not sign the final document. Boyd said the Bush administration believes such rights should be covered by national measures and pointed to U.S. laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act.