A Guide to Getting Your Local Government to endorse the CRPD

The Bush Administration announced their decision not to sign the CRPD. In the summer of 2006, a few months before the treaty was adopted by the UN General Assembly on Dec. 3, and about 6 months before the CRPD signing ceremony on March 30, 2007, a concept emerged to build support for US ratification from local governments by asking them to endorse resolutions.  Realizing that the best way to accomplish this is for constituents from localities within the US to urge their own local governments to pass resolutions, grassroots activists/advocates have been working to get resolutions passed on the city and county levels.

These endorsements will continue to be invaluable in the months to come, as activists throughout the country advocate for ratification of the Convention to both the current and, if necessary, the next administration.

So far, the following US cities and counties have passed resolutions or proclamations in support of the CRPD:

Santa Cruz County

City of Santa Cruz, CA

City of San Francisco, CA

Santa Monica, CA Community College District

City of Chicago, IL

City of Cambridge, MA (scroll down to "Orders" )

City of Bloomington, MN

City of Portland, OR

Multnomah County (Oregon) 

City of Sarasota, FL

Other cities and counties not listed above are in the process of passing resolutions, including San Francisco CA and Albany NY, and still others are in the early stages of the process. 

What we’re finding is that the more local governments officially endorse the CRPD, the easier it is to get others to follow suit.

What follows below are the stories of how activists have gotten their own cities/counties to officially endorse the CRPD.  The same general procedures can be followed for any local governing body. I think you’ll find that city and county governments are quite receptive to the idea of passing a resolution supporting the treaty. In some cities, you may find that your local city council is already aware of the US’s failure to sign the treaty, and your request that they pass a resolution will be well received. At any rate, don’t be shy about writing to and following up with your district commissioner or local city council. Remember that as elected officials, part of their job is to respond to issues that their constituents bring to their attention.

Ratify CRPD Now is here to assist you in these endeavors, and we even have sample letters that you can use to contact your local elected officials.