UNITED NATIONS, Jun 13 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that \u201ccascade of crises\u201d is putting global progress towards ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in danger.<\/p>\n
Addressing a conference to take stock of action since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 17 years ago, he urged countries to \u201cdo much, much better\u201d to achieve greater inclusion and accessibility.<\/p>\n
There are more than one billion persons with disabilities worldwide, most of whom are of working age and live in developing countries.<\/p>\n
The 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD is taking place at UN Headquarters in New York through Thursday.<\/p>\n
Guterres said the treaty marked \u201ca landmark moment in our shared journey towards a more just and inclusive future for all.\u201d<\/p>\n
It has been ratified by 186 countries, and some 75 per cent of State Parties have passed laws to guarantee the integration of students with disabilities in mainstream schools.<\/p>\n
Nearly 80 per cent now prohibit discrimination in hiring against persons with disabilities, and over 90 per cent have adopted national disability laws.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, however, the progress we achieved is at risk of reversing,\u201d the UN chief said, referring to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening climate emergency, conflicts, soaring humanitarian needs, and the global cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n
Guterres noted that persons with disabilities \u201care often hit first and worst\u201d when crisis strikes. \u201cIn every emergency \u2013 from natural disasters to pandemics to armed conflicts \u2013 persons with disabilities lose their lives at vastly higher rates,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, workers with disabilities \u2013 who already suffer exclusion and marginalization \u2013 are often the first to lose their jobs and the last to be re-hired. Meanwhile, women and girls with disabilities are more likely to suffer violence and abuse, face discrimination, and remain trapped in poverty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must do much, much better,\u201d he said, underlining that everyone has the right to live lives of dignity and opportunity, in societies that are peaceful, prosperous, and just.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause a world in which persons with disabilities can realize their full potential is a world that is more equal, more inclusive, more vibrant, fairer and better for all,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Guterres said the conference highlights three areas where progress must be made now, starting with improving digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, as \u201cleaving no one behind, means leaving no one offline.\u201d<\/p>\n
Persons with disabilities must also have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, an issue that has been \u201cso deeply neglected\u201d, he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not only a matter of justice and rights, including fundamental reproductive rights \u2013 for women with disabilities, access to sexual and reproductive health services can be the difference between life and death,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Finally, countries must ensure the full inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in all their diversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecifically, that means shifting mindsets to ensure persons with disabilities are fully included in decision-making processes on all issues that affect them,\u201d
\nThe Secretary-General underlined the UN\u2019s commitment to take ownership and show leadership.<\/p>\n
Four years ago, he launched a strategy on disability inclusion across all pillars of the Organization\u2019s work in peace and security, human rights, and development. Since then, UN entities and country teams have met 30 per cent of benchmarks.<\/p>\n
Guterres acknowledged that \u201cwhile this is progress \u2013 it is neither fast nor broad enough\u201d, adding, \u201cwe must pick up the pace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy commitment is ironclad: guided by persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, we will not stop until disability inclusion and accessibility are fully built into every aspect of our work \u2013 across every policy, programme, and operation; from headquarters to the field,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 13 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that \u201ccascade of crises\u201d is putting global progress towards ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in danger. Addressing a conference to take stock of action since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 17 years ago, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":323552,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[3218],"class_list":{"0":"post-337561","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-antonio-guterres"},"yoast_head":"\n