"Nothing About Us Without Us"

On July 30, 2009, the President of the United States signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which is a treaty defining the rights of persons with disabilities under international human rights law, which affects more than 600 million persons with disabilities around the world.

The purpose of the CRPD is was to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Expressed in the CRPD is the concept of reasonable accommodation, which is a new way to conceptualize the whole field of human rights. The Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry (CHRUSP), with the leadership of Tina Minkowitz, played a significant role in negotiations on the text of the CRPD in advocating for the rights of users and survivors of psychiatry as well as the rights of all persons with disabilities.

For the first time in 34 years, the United States will this fall be examining its own record in regards to human rights and preparing a report for the United Nations Human Rights Council. The United States as a nation has never participated in this United Nations Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights before (UPR). Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that the Obama administration was "committed to holding everyone to the same standard, including ourselves."

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is an office of the United Nations Secretariat mandated to promote and protect all rights established in international human rights laws and treaties. Located in Geneva, the OHCHR works to prevent human rights violations, secure respect for all human rights, promote international cooperation to protect human rights, and coordinate related activities throughout the United Nations.

According to the UN's Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR), "The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN Member States once every four years. The UPR is a significant innovation of the Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for all countries. It provides an opportunity for all States to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to overcome challenges to the enjoyment of human rights. The UPR also includes a sharing of best human rights practices around the globe. Currently, no other mechanism of this kind exists."

This UPR is an important first step to establishing a direct feedback from the people of the U.S.A. to the President about how our nation is doing in regards to Human Rights.

Medical Whistleblower is conducting a survey regarding Human Rights in the U.S.A. If you would like to be included in this survey please contact us at Medical Whistleblower, P.O. Box C, Lawrence, KS 66044

MedicalWhistleblowers@gmail.com

Take the Medical Whistleblower Survey on Human Rights Now:

Medical Whistleblower UPR Registration to Participate (Part 1)

Medical Whistleblower Universal Periodic Review Survey (Part 2)