As a young woman from Colombia with an intellectual disability, I am honored to be a voice for an often marginalized population. As part of my Malka Bristo Fellowship with Human Rights Watch, I had the opportunity to serve as a panelist at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2024, advocating for people with disabilities’ right to dignified work and sustainable livelihoods. This experience taught me how to tell my story and advocate for change, and allowed me to fulfill a personal dream of visiting New York.
These two weeks were a road to exponential learning and unique experiences. Firstly, the regular meetings and trainings with Human Rights Watch helped me understand the objectives of this organization. In addition, I also enjoyed individual sessions with the team on how to improve our communication skills and social media usage, which are key for advocacy efforts.
Secondly, participating in the UN Multicultural Stage helped me understand the issues facing people with disabilities around the world. I learned about the impacts of climate change and its relationship to people with disabilities, as there is little inclusive emergency planning, and therefore people with disabilities are disproportionately affected by extreme weather and climatic events.
Third, I would like to point out that despite progress towards inclusion, significant barriers remain that prevent full participation in society. Therefore, we need to work towards real policies that promote equal access to education, meaningful employment opportunities with equal working conditions and wages, and an independent and dignified life.
Lastly, this experience taught me the power of communication and ownership. Being able to attend and participate in such a forum is incredibly empowering. It was truly inspiring to see first-hand how people with disabilities advocate for themselves. The words that resonated with me were, “No story can be told about us without us.” People with disabilities must lead the change towards inclusion and equality. I invite all of you reading this to join me in this journey towards change, inclusion and equality.