“Together, we can ensure that everyone… can fully participate in all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural and political.” Secretary General António Guterres saidadded that “we can and we will advance our common future.”
Moving forward
He hailed the progress driven by the disability convention as “broad, rapid and tangible.”
“With 185 ratifications since its adoption in 2006, the Convention has crystallized the international community’s commitment to realizing an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world for all.” .
Mr. Guterres noted that 92% of Member States have adopted national disability legislation, more than 60% have taken action to prohibit discrimination in the labor market, almost 90% have adopted laws protect the right of children with disabilities to education, and the percentage of countries with school materials that support the inclusion of students with disabilities has more than doubled.
COVID factor
Unfortunately, the head of the United Nations said, that progress has been reversed by COVID-19 pandemic, has exposed existing inequalities and raised new threats.
“Even before the pandemic, people with disabilities were less likely to have access to education, health care and livelihoods…[and] when COVID-19 hit the community, people with disabilities were one of the hardest hit”, he said.
The same is true in armed conflicts, the Secretary-General said, pointing out that “People with disabilities are often unable to flee violence and do not receive adequate humanitarian support. ”
Reminder that the Convention as well as Resolution 2475 calling on Member States to ensure the equal protection of persons with disabilities and the provision of safe, timely and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance, he urged States to “implement that obligation”.
Climbing ahead
Fifteen years since the Convention was adopted, Mr. Guterres has highlighted “three important paths” to moving forward, starting with harnessing technology to enhance inclusion.
“Delivering on the promise of technology means closing the digital divide; expand accessibility and inclusivity; and better protect people against its dangers“, I said.
Second, is promoting economic empowerment and entrepreneurship to promote the equal participation of people with disabilities in the labor market.
Finally, he called for progress in the area of climate action.
“People with disabilities are 2-4 times more likely to die in hurricanes, tsunamis and other natural disasters,” he pointed out.
The ‘foundation’ of cooperation
Across all three priorities, the United Nations Chief highlighted the need for broader cooperation among Governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector.
“But the foundation… must be the active participation of people with disabilities in their full diversity and their full inclusion in all decision-making processes,” said Mr. Guterres.
“We need leadership from people with disabilities, especially women and their representative organizations“.
He said action should be guided by the “clear and important appeal” of people with disabilities themselves – “There is nothing about us, without us”.
UN photo / Rick Bajornas
Emmanuel Elisha Ford, using Braille, speaks at the launch of the preparations for the General Assembly High-Level meeting on Disability and Development. (2012)
Walking talk
Committed to leading by example, he reminds that UN Disability Inclusion Strategy is in its third year of implementation, providing “a concrete framework” to promote inclusive inclusion.
“From headquarters to the scene, We are taking a close look at how we address disability inclusion and access, from our programs to our internal operations.“, he said, demonstrating that “with strategy as our road map, we are building on inclusion of people with disabilities in our humanitarian work, peace and security”.
He said the UN is working with governments to collect data on people with disabilities to support the implementation of the Convention. and achieve Development Agenda for 2030.
And by improving physical and digital accessibility and establishing accessible systems of work in United Nations offices, Mr. Guterres hopes “to a selected employer for people with disabilities”.
Speeding through the pandemic: Shahid
General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid reminded, via video message, that the conference was themed: “Building participatory and inclusive societies of people with disabilities in the context of COVID and beyond.”
He spoke at length about how people with disabilities have been affected by the pandemic, through “loss of jobs, inadequate social protection systems and inadequate assistive technologies.
Advocating for incorporating “the perspective of one billion people with disabilities,” as we embark on our post-COVID agenda, Mr. Shahid called on the international community to incorporate their perspectives into policy design and implementation.
