Csaba Kőrösi, President of the 77th session of the General Assembly

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Easy-to-Understand Communication

12 June 2023

(As delivered)

Mr. Under-Secretary-General,

Madam Chairperson,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

It has been a privilege to convene this meeting on Easy-to-Understand Communication.

Our discussion today takes place on the margins of the “Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” or “COSP on CRPD”.

Did you understand that?

Neither did I.

That is precisely why we meet today.

To make sure every one of us is able to understand why we meet, and why we do what we do.

Leaving aside the acronyms – we meet today to discuss what it means to foster Easy-to-Understand Communications.

Simply put, “Easy-to-Understand Communications” are a tool to make information accessible to all, particularlyfor people with intellectual disabilities.

These communication methods use jargon-free language, and simple imagery to illustrate content.

Here, at the United Nations, we tend to be everything but “easy to understand”.

The first step we need to take, at the UN, and at home, is to actively involve persons with disabilities.

We must ensure they play leading roles in the development of these types of communications – from the design to the final product.

This is not about ticking a box, nor focusing on physical accessibility only.

This is about recognizing that people with disabilities are themselves experts on their needs.

And we must remember that the spectrum of disability is so broad – we cannot take a one-size-fits-all approach.

By engaging in this work those whom we are trying to communicate with would protect their rights to seek and receive information and promote their freedom of speech.

Because, as said by the actress Emma Thompson, “being disabled should not mean being disqualified.”

But easy-to-understand communications are also a tool for a range of other people:

  • people from marginalized groups,
  • people who do not speak the official language of a given country,
  • people who find reading or writing a challenge, or
  • people who may have memory loss or other health issues.

They may all benefit from straightforward ways of writing, reading, and speaking.

These methods not only contribute to the democratization of information, they also serve as an antidote to disinformation.

Ultimately, they lead to more inclusive discussions andbetter decision making.

For persons with disabilities to live independently, to participate fully in society, and for them to truly enjoy their freedoms and rights, we must start with access.

Accessibility is a prerequisite of equality.

Think of it: if some of us are unable to access information, how can they arm themselves with the knowledge they need to take decisions in their lives?

We must remove existing barriers to information and do our best to provide accessible services for each of the eight billion of us.  

It is called for in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that we agreed upon.

The inclusion of people with disabilities only brings us closer to our 2030 goals.

Closer to transformative change.

Closer to freedom and equality for all.

I trust that today’s meeting and our landmark Conference will play a major role in that.

Dear Friends,

Let us prove that we heed the age-old wisdom of Confucius: “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” 

I thank you.