When President Obama takes the stage in the General Assembly Hall, he can make immeasurable progress toward his goal of reclaiming U.S. moral authority by strongly reaffirming America's commitment to ratifying widely endorsed international treaties that we have already signed.
The US, despite proclaiming a new commitment to multilateralism, refuses to ratify the convention on biological diversity.
A commitment by all participants to ratify and implement the 2005 Nuclear Terrorism Convention that requires states to criminalize unlawful use or possession of nuclear material or damage to nuclear facilities.
Yet, the website of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) still only confirms a commitment "to introducing legislation" to ratify the convention – adding that it will happen when parliamentary time allows.
By joining with the United States in this project, China stepped ahead of other world leaders like Angela Merkel of Germany and Japan's Shinzo Abe (who have yet to ratify their commitment to the Accord) and actively committed his country to adopt cleaner and safer industrial practices.
"As a public authority, we want to ratify our commitment by supporting this initiative that, added to other public policies, aims at ensuring education, good health and social inclusion for young people," said Mayor of São Paulo Gilberto Kassab.
Kevin Rudd, in his first spell as prime minister, attended the UN climate talks in 2007 to ratify Australia's commitment to the Kyoto protocol, which fixed obligations on industrialised countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Using robust diplomatic language, environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan challenged rich countries to ratify a second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol (KP), and pay what they had promised to developing countries before trying to negotiate a new deal.
The CRPD was the first human rights convention of the 21st Century and the Government of Bangladesh was among the first countries to ratify it, demonstrating its commitment to the fulfilment of rights of persons with disabilities, including children.
And what about India, Pakistan and Israel As for more global treaty commitments, Mr Obama is expected to try to get Congress to ratify the test-ban (it refused in 1999).
