International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (#COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), is taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York under the theme: CRPD at 20 - Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world. Interactive Dialogue among States Parties, the United Nations system and other stakeholders on Implementation of the Convention between States Parties and the UN System Decisions by the Conference of States Parties Closure of the session ** The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification. The CRPD is a legally-binding agreement between Member States who have signed the Convention to uphold, promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities as defined in the treaty. Article 40 of the ...

This high-level side event, organized jointly by the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of South Africa, launches the revised United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS 2.0). It will convene stakeholders from across the United Nations system, Member States, and organizations of persons with disabilities to articulate a shared vision for advancing disability inclusion in the next phase of UNDIS implementation during 2026–2030. Related Sites and Documents:  Concept note . Watch UNDIS 2.0: Celebrating Progress, Accelerating Action on Disability Inclusion across the United Nations (COSP19 Side Event)! 01:30:59 Side Events

This side event, hosted by Ireland, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, the World Health Organization, and the International Disability Alliance, aims to share country experiences and best practises of using the assistive technology Data Toolkit, including key findings, lessons learned and insights from lived experiences. Assistive technology (AT) encompasses assistive products and their related systems and services. Assistive products include a broad spectrum of devices that enable function and ensure quality access and use - including simple products such as walking aids and reading glasses through to more complex products such as wheelchairs, low-vision aids and digital communication aids. Timely and consistent access to assistive technology throughout the lives of persons with disabilities can have a transformative impact in enhancing participation, inclusion, health and well-being, making it a key enabling factor in ensuring that the rights set out in the Convention on the Rights of Persons wit...

This side event marks the 10th anniversary of the recognition of Maltese Sign Language and the 20th anniversary of the CRPD. Ten years from the passage of the Maltese Sign Language Recognition Act in 2016, we celebrate and focus on consolidating achievements, as a means of shaping the next phase of implementation of the CRPD. Malta wishes to do this in the spirit of this year's CoSP, alongside Deaf activists and allies from around the globe. Coordinated by the Deaf-led Sign Language Council of Malta (KLSM), the side event will highlight Malta's progress in legal recognition of sign language, community-led policy development, professionalization of sign language interpreting and accessibility as a human right. Aside from exploring the structured collaboration between local actors such as the Deaf community, interpreters and service providers, the event will also showcase best practices and challenges through the interventions of Deaf colleagues from different countries, while ...

Twenty years after the adoption of the CRPD, financing remains one of the most decisive conditions for moving from legal harmonization and policy commitments to implementation at scale. While many States have adopted disability laws, policies and action plans, translating these commitments into sustained, adequate and better-coordinated investment remains a major challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Opening remarks H.E. Mr. Keo Chhea, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations H.E Waleed Obeidat, Ambassador and Permanent representative of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations (TBC) Astrid Harnisch, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Federal Republic of Germany Presentations and speakers Overview of domestic and international public financing for disability inclusion Alexandre Cote, Disability Policy and Systems Specialist - UNICEF Key findings from analytic...

Twenty years after the adoption of the CRPD, financing remains one of the most decisive conditions for moving from legal harmonization and policy commitments to implementation at scale . While many States have adopted disability laws, policies and action plans, translating these commitments into sustained, adequate and better-coordinated investment remains a major challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Opening remarks H.E. Mr. Keo Chhea, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations H.E Waleed Obeidat, Ambassador and Permanent representative of Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the United Nations (TBC) Astrid Harnisch, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Federal Republic of Germany Presentations and speakers Overview of domestic and international public financing for disability inclusion Alexandre Cote, Disability Policy and Systems Specialist - UNICEF Key findings from analyti...