A Republican senatorial opposition led to the rejection of a United Nations treaty on the rights of the disabled on Tuesday.

The treaty, modeled after the Americans with Disabilities Act, has already been signed by 155 nations and ratified by 126 countries, including Britain, France and Germany. The treaty states that nations should assure that the disabled enjoy the same rights and freedoms as fellow citizens.

Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who was disabled during his military service in World War II, and Sen. John McCain, who also suffered disabling injuries as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, were both in attendance along with other Republican heavyweights to vocalize their support for the treaty.

The 61-38 vote fell short of the required two-thirds majority needed to ratify a treaty. Only eight Republican senators voted “yes”, 38 voted “no”. Republicans objected to considering a treaty during a lame-duck session and they believed that the treaty threatened U.S. sovereignty, despite explanations from treaty backers that the committee created by the treaty has no power to change U.S. law, only to make recommendations.

The United Nations estimates that 650 million people, about 10 percent of the world’s population, are disabled.

What are your thoughts on this treaty’s rejection?