HI SCR157

State of Hawaii is urged to adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international human rights instrument protecting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.

United States Senate is urged to ratify the Convention, which President Obama signed in 2009 but failed to achieve the required two-thirds Senate majority for ratification.

Convention requires parties to promote, protect, and ensure full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure their equality under the law.

Convention came into force on May 3, 2008, following ratification by the twentieth party and has served as a catalyst in shifting global perspective from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity toward viewing them as full and equal members of society.

Certified copies of the resolution shall be transmitted to the United Nations Secretary General, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, President of the United States, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, United States Secretary of State, and Hawaii's Congressional delegation.