UNITED NATIONS, June 10 — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for realizing the rights of every person with disabilities and building a fair and vibrant future for all.
In a speech at the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Guterres said the convention, which marks its 20th anniversary in 2026, has helped to shift the understanding of disability from a medical and charity-based model to one centered on human rights. “For countless people around the world, that means 20 years with wider access, greater recognition, and deeper respect,” he said. According to the UN chief, the convention has now been ratified by 192 countries and one regional organization. More than 90 percent of countries have laws guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities, nearly 80 percent prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities in hiring, and 75 percent have enacted laws to ensure the inclusion of students with disabilities.
However, Guterres noted that the latest UN Disability and Development Report found that almost all Sustainable Development Goal indicators related to persons with disabilities are off track. He cited findings showing that one-third of children with disabilities experience neglect or violence, with such risks often extending into adulthood. He urged governments to remove all barriers to participation in all aspects of political and public life, and to empower persons with disabilities to serve as full partners in policymaking.
In her remarks, UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Annalena Baerbock stressed that progress in legislation has not always translated into improvements in daily life. She called on governments to close the gap between commitments and implementation and to build societies in which persons with disabilities can live independently, participate fully and enjoy their rights on an equal basis with others. The 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD is being held from June 9 to 11 under the theme “CRPD at 20: Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world.”
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006 and entering into force in May 2008, the CRPD is a legally binding treaty requiring signatory states to uphold, promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
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