United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated at the opening session in the General Assembly Hall, “The world benefits when everyone has the opportunity to serve humanity and to chase their dreams.” He added, “Your discussions today are a vital next step towards a world where all are respected and included.”
This year’s Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) marks its 19th session, COSP19, and is taking place from June 9-11 under the theme “Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world.” The conference will feature round-table discussions, elections, decisions on the best way forward, and firsthand accounts of challenges, innovative solutions, and success stories from around the globe.
‘While progress is real, it is unacceptably slow’
Actions are focusing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a legally binding treaty adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and currently ratified by 192 countries. Member states commit to defending, promoting, and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.
While many successes have been achieved, such as over 90 percent of countries having laws in place to protect the rights of persons with disabilities twenty years later, much more needs to be done. The latest UN Disability and Development Report findings indicate that almost all indicators for persons with disabilities under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are off track.
The UN Secretary-General remarked, “While progress is real, it is unacceptably slow.”
‘Fortunately, it is possible to redesign the world’
Guterres pointed to a world facing crises, from climate change and conflicts to the rising global cost of living, stating, “Too often, being disabled means living in a world designed by and for others.” He added, “Fortunately, it is possible to redesign the world.”
In an effort to set an example, the UN’s Disability Inclusion Strategy aims to drive change guided by the perspectives of persons with disabilities.
Guterres urged, “Together, let us realize the rights of every person with a disability and build a just and vibrant future for all.”
You can watch the opening session here:
Voices of civil society heard
Communities from across the globe convened a multi-stakeholder Civil Society Forum under the auspices of COSP19 on Monday, addressing urgent issues ranging from building resilient societies to fostering accessible civic participation, leadership, and advocacy in political and public life.
If you missed it, you can watch UN Web TV via the links below to access these forum sessions.
More information about this year’s forum can be found here.
COSP19: Explained
- COSP meetings have been held annually at UN Headquarters in New York since 2008, covering diverse themes and topics.
- Click here to view maps of UN Headquarters, including the Accessibility Centre and Kiosk.
- Gain full access to COSP19, live or on demand, on UN Web TV, alongside dozens of side events including closed captioning and sign language interpretation.
- Read the concept note here.
- Find the draft programme here and an easy-read version here.
- Engage on social media with #COSP19 #CRPD20.
Live blog takeover: From 2024
Check out our first live blog takeover from UN News by activist, actor, and talk show host Nick Herd. Nick Herd shared his story and journey on the opening day of the 17th session. You can follow the event here.
