NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS BY PAULINA KUBIAK GREER,
SPOKESPERSON FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ABDULLA SHAHID
United Nations Headquarters, New York

 

COSP15

Today is the start of the 15th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The event is taking place in New York through Thursday, on the theme of “building disability-inclusive and participatory societies in the COVID context and beyond.”

Speaking at today’s opening via video message, President of the General Assembly Abdulla Shahid said that persons with disabilities remain among the most marginalized in crisis-affected communities.

This was evident during the COVID pandemic, as persons with disabilities were disproportionately affected through loss of employment, non-inclusive social protection systems, and inadequate assistive technologies.

The President said that as we embark on a post-COVID agenda, we must incorporate the viewpoints of the one billion people living with disabilities.

He urged the international community to include the views of persons with disabilities in policy design and implementation.

He also called on Parties to commit to improved funding and resources.

The President’s remarks come less than a week after our office organized a training on accessibility and ways to improve inclusivity here at the UN Headquarters.

In April, the President convened an informal dialogue on “Accessibility to United Nations Headquarters”, as part of his Holhuashi Dialogues.

The President’s speech is available at https://www.un.org/pga/76/2022/06/14/remarks-before-15th-session-of-the-conference-of-states-parties-to-the-crpd/

 

GENEVA

President Shahid has just arrived in Geneva.

He was received by Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva.

Tomorrow, he will participate in a commemorative event on the occasion of the 50th session of the Human Rights Council.

He will speak alongside the President of the Human Rights Council, Federico Villegas, High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet. And Estela Carlotto – who is an Argentine human rights activist. She is the President of the Association of Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo.

In a separate event tomorrow, President Shahid will engage with civil society representatives, particularly on the issues of his five Rays of Hope – recovering from COVID, rebuilding sustainably, taking care of the planet, respecting human rights, and the revitalizing the United Nations.

The President will also have a number of bilaterals, including with UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Gillian Triggs.

 

QUESTIONS

The Spokesperson was asked off-camera about the next round of ECOSOC Eastern Europe elections. The Spokesperson said that there is no announcement yet.