UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (Xinhua) -- Global progress towards ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities is in danger, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday.
To achieve greater inclusion and accessibility, he urged countries to "do much, much better" following the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 17 years ago.
Around 1 billion people live with disabilities worldwide, most of whom are working-age and live in developing countries.
The 16th session of the conference of states parties to the CRPD is taking place at the UN Headquarters through Thursday.
Guterres said the treaty marked "a landmark moment in our shared journey towards a more just and inclusive future for all."
More than 75 percent of state parties have passed laws guaranteeing the inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream education. Nearly 80 percent now prohibit discrimination in hiring against persons with disabilities, and over 90 percent have adopted national disability laws.
"Today, however, the progress we achieved is at risk of reversing," he 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.
Guterres noted that people with disabilities are often the first to suffer during crisis situations. "In every emergency -- from natural disasters to pandemics to armed conflicts -- persons with disabilities lose their lives at vastly higher rates," he said.
Disability workers, who already face exclusion and marginalization, are often the first to lose their jobs and the last to be rehired. Meanwhile, women and girls with disabilities are more likely to suffer violence and abuse, face discrimination, and remain trapped in poverty.
"We must do much, much better," he said, underlining that everyone has the right to live lives of dignity and opportunity, in societies that are peaceful, prosperous, and just.
"Because 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," he added.
According to Guterres, the conference highlights three areas where progress is necessary now, starting with improving digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, since "leaving no one behind means leaving no one offline."
Persons with disabilities must also have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, an issue that has been "so deeply neglected," he continued.
"It is not only a matter of justice and rights, including fundamental reproductive rights -- for women with disabilities, access to sexual and reproductive health services can be the difference between life and death," he said.
Finally, countries must ensure the full inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in all their diversity.
"Specifically, that means shifting mindsets to ensure persons with disabilities are fully included in decision-making processes on all issues that affect them," he said. "And it means realizing the powerful call of the disability movement: 'Nothing about us, without us.'"
Guterres underlined the UN's commitment to take ownership and show leadership.
A UN strategy on disability inclusion was launched four years ago across all pillars of the world body's work in peace and security, human rights, and development. Since then, UN entities and country teams have met 30 percent of the benchmarks set out in the strategy.
The UN chief acknowledged that "while this is progress -- it is neither fast nor broad enough," adding that "we must pick up the pace."
"My 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 -- across every policy, program, and operation; from headquarters to the field," he said. ■
