Speaking at a conference reviewing work since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 17 years ago, he called on countries to “go much further” to achieve greater inclusion and accessibility.
There are more than one billion people with disabilities in the world, most of whom are of working age and live in developing countries.
“A groundbreaking moment”
The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is running at United Nations Headquarters until Thursday.
Secretary-General Guterres said the treaty was a “landmark moment in our shared journey towards a more just and inclusive future for all”.
The Convention has been ratified by 186 countries, and approximately 75 percent of signatory countries have enacted laws ensuring admission of students with disabilities to mainstream schools.
Currently, approximately 80 percent of countries prohibit discrimination in employment for people with disabilities, and more than 90 percent have enacted national disability laws.
be hit hard by the crisis
“But today, the progress we have made is at risk of being reversed,” he said, citing the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening climate emergency, conflict, growing humanitarian needs and the global cost-of-living crisis.
When crises hit, people with disabilities “are often the first and hardest hit,” Mr Guterres said. “In all emergencies, from natural disasters to pandemics to armed conflict, people with disabilities suffer a much higher loss of life,” he said.
Moreover, already excluded and marginalized, workers with disabilities are often the first to lose their jobs and the last to be re-employed, while women and girls with disabilities are more likely to experience violence and abuse, face discrimination and remain trapped in poverty.
Everyone is a winner
“We must do much better,” he said, stressing that everyone has the right to a life of dignity and opportunity in a peaceful, prosperous and just society.
“Because a world in which people with disabilities can realize their full potential is a more equal, more inclusive, more vibrant, more fair and better world for all,” he added.
Areas for action
Guterres said the meeting was focused on three areas where progress must be made immediately, starting with improving digital accessibility for people with disabilities. “Leaving no one behind means leaving no one offline,” he said.
People with disabilities must have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, but this issue has “been grossly neglected”, he continued.
“This is not just an issue of justice and rights, including basic reproductive rights. For women with disabilities, access to sexual and reproductive health services can mean the difference between life and death,” he said.
Finally, States must ensure the full inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities in all their diversity.
“Specifically, it means shifting mindsets so that people with disabilities are fully included in the decision-making process on all issues that affect them,” he said, “and it means realizing the powerful call of the disability movement: ‘Nothing about us, without us.'”
Increase speed
The Secretary-General underscored the United Nations’ determination to provide responsible leadership.
Four years ago, the Secretary-General launched a strategy to integrate people with disabilities across all pillars of UN peace and security, human rights and development work. Since then, UN agencies and country teams have reached the 30 percent benchmark.
“This is progress, but it is not yet fast or wide enough,” Guterres acknowledged, adding that “we must pick up the pace.”
“My determination is firm: we will not stop until inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities is fully embedded in every aspect of our work, from headquarters to the field, across all policies, programmes and activities, led by people with disabilities and their representative organizations,” he said.
Accurate data is important
The President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Korosi, noted that much remains to be done to translate the ground-breaking provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into real change on the ground.
He stressed the need for accurate data to help policymakers allocate resources to support people with disabilities.
“These efforts will be particularly important in overcoming barriers to digital inclusion, as people with disabilities often have lower incomes than others and the costs of adaptive technologies and connectivity services are a burden,” he said.
Justice for All
Korosi also expressed his commitment to building a fairer and more inclusive society.
He also said the UN General Assembly met on Tuesday to discuss the role of “understandable communication” in helping people with disabilities to fully participate in UN work.
He added that the General Assembly will hold a high-level meeting on “equal access to justice for all” on Thursday.
Some of the speakers are activists who help other disabled people navigate complex legal systems around the world.