New York, N.Y., June 10, 2014 – The United States Council for International Business (USCIB), which represents America’s top global companies, has urged Congress to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), an international disability treaty that was inspired by U.S. leadership in recognizing the rights of people with disabilities.
The CRDP was modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and provides a vital framework for creating global policies that embrace the rights of people with disabilities. Ratification of the CPRD allows the U.S. to maintain its leadership role and eliminate disability discrimination around the world.
USCIB signed on with over 800 disability, business and faith organizations that voiced support for the treaty. In a letter addressed to Senate leaders, USCIB President and CEO Peter M. Robinson urged Congress to move expeditiously to ratify the treaty, and underscored how the CRPD strengthens American leadership and benefits business.
“U.S. business has long recognized that policies promoting diversity and non-discrimination in the workplace are important for protecting human rights as well as for purely business reasons,” said Robinson. “Workplace diversity conveys important economic advantages on both companies and the societies in which they do business, including broader talent pools, improved productivity, increased job creation and opening new markets.”
USCIB is a member of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network, a voluntary group of multinational companies, employers’ organizations, business networks and disabled persons’ organizations who share the conviction that people with disabilities have talents and skills that can enhance virtually any workplace. USCIB Senior Counsel Ronnie Goldberg serves on the network’s steering committee.
About USCIB:
USCIB promotes open markets, competitiveness and innovation, sustainable development and corporate responsibility, supported by international engagement and prudent regulation. Its members include top U.S.-based global companies and professional services firms from every sector of our economy, with operations in every region of the world. With a unique global network encompassing leading international business organizations, USCIB provides business views to policy makers and regulatory authorities worldwide, and works to facilitate international trade and investment. More information is available at www.uscib.org.
Contact:
Jonathan Huneke, VP communications, USCIB
(212) 703-5043 or jhuneke@uscib.org
