UFI at the United Nations
Speech Given by Linda Ash to the United Nations, Disability Conference
By Linda Ash
February 9, 2005
Mr. Chairman,
I thank you for the opportunity to speak. I represent United Families International. I am the mother of five and a grandmother of one.
We do not believe that any new human right should be created by this document. We agree with the chair and others of the distinguished delegations that the purpose of this document is to promote and protect existing human rights for the disabled on an equal basis with others.
We agree with the suggestion of the distinguished delegate from Jordan, that sub-paragraph (a) of Article 14 be deleted.
We also agree with the distinguished delegate from Jordan and many other distinguished delegates, when they suggest the reformulation of sub-paragraph b to Article 14. His proposal was:
"That the right of all men and women with disabilities who are of marriageable age to marry and to found a family on the basis of free and full consent of the intending spouses and that husband and wife shall be equal partners shall be recognized."
We agree with the use of the language from the Doha Declaration of November 2004 which was a consensus document. The Doha Declaration was welcomed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 6, 2004, Reference A59L59 (as orally amended.) The Doha Declaration cannot and should not be ignored. The Doha Declaration states:
"We emphasize that marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses and that the right of men and women of marriageable age to marry and to found a family shall be recognized and that husband and wife should be equal partners.”
Distinguished delegates, a nation is only as strong as its families. I ask this conference to support the recommendations of Jordan, Jamaica, the Holy See and other distinguished delegates who have expressed their support of language that preserves and strengthens families.
Thank you.
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