(CNN) -- As human rights advocates around the world celebrate the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this week, their counterparts in the United States are mourning the Senate's rejection last week of the international convention for disability rights. Appalling in its own right, the Senate Republicans' defeat of the 21st century's first human rights treaty is a sad but sharp reminder that misinformation and fear can still override fundamental principles of human decency and common sense. More importantly, it is yet another blow to the United States' ability to play a leading role in promoting freedoms and human dignity in the world.
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Last week, Senate Republicans defeated the international convention for disability rights
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Misinformation and fear overrode decency and common sense, says Ted Piccone
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Opponents argued that the U.N. could deny parents their rights to raise children as they see fit
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U.S. is losing its moral voice on human rights because it is not leading by example, he says
The hallmark of the @placeholder human rights system is its success in elaborating international standards for protecting a comprehensive set of human rights, monitoring states' respect for those rights and making recommendations for improving their records.