At a time when the world is facing multiple crises, the inclusion of persons with disabilities, who number 1.3 billion globally, is essential for creating a more resilient and fair future. In this spirit, the 17th session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP17) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD) will be held from 11 to 13 June 2024 at United Nations Headquarters in New York under the theme Rethinking Disability Inclusion in the Current International Juncture and Ahead of the Summit of the Future. With the goal of building a future that is inclusive for everyone, the Summit of the Future will be held in New York in September.
COSP17 will be preceded by the launch of the UN Disability and Development Report 2024 on 10 June, at an event co-organized by UN DESA and the Permanent Missions of Japan, Philippines and Tanzania. The Report will provide an updated comprehensive analysis to address the needs of the international community to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for persons with disabilities. It presents the most recent global analysis on the socio-economic circumstances of persons with disabilities and the challenges they face in their daily lives, including the exacerbated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Join the virtual Report launch on 10 June 2024, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm EDT here: https://zoom.us/j/93869577263. Closed captions will be provided.
WHAT: The 17th session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP17) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD)
WHEN: 11 to 13 June 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT – COSP17
WHERE: UN Headquarters in New York, General Assembly Hall and Conference Room 4
Live on webtv.un.org and recording of the opening will be available with closed captions at: https://www.youtube.com/undesadspd
WHO: The Conference will bring together government representatives, senior UN officials, experts from academia, the private sector, civil society organizations and persons with disabilities from around the world to discuss critical issues related to disability inclusion.
The opening session on Tuesday, 11 June will include statements by:
- E Mr. Tarek Ladeb, President of the 17th session of the Conference of States Parties
- Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General
- E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly (video message)
- Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Chairperson, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Heba Hagrass, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Sanja Tarcazy, Civil Society Representative/World Federation of the Deafblind
- Khadija Jallouli, Youth Representative, Tunisia
More details, including the programme, the Civil Society Forum and the list of side events, can be found here: https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/cosp/17th-session-of-the-conference-of-states-parties-to-the-crpd-cosp17
View the live stream with closed captions and international sign language: https://webtv.un.org/en
Live blog: Nick Herd, an activist, actor and talk show host with Down syndrome will be leading the UN News team for the opening day of COSP17. Follow live here.
To access the Report: https://social.desa.un.org/publications/un-flagship-report-on-disability-and-development-2024
About COSP17
The Conference of States Parties is the main global forum for discussing and promoting the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The CRPD is an international treaty that protects and promotes the rights and freedoms of persons with disabilities.