16 June 2016: The ninth Conference of States Parties (COSP-9) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) marked the Convention’s tenth anniversary, and pledged to “leave no one behind” in its implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
COSP-9 convened from 14-16 June 2016, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. Delegates took part in three roundtable discussions on: eliminating poverty and inequality for all persons with disabilities; promoting the rights of persons with mental and intellectual disabilities; and enhancing accessibility to information and technology and inclusive development. Delegates also engaged in a dialogue on implementation of the CRPD with the UN system, which celebrated the CRPD’s tenth anniversary, chaired by Conference President Oh Joon (Republic of Korea).
In opening remarks on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, UN Chef de Cabinet Edmond Mullet said that much more can be done to fully implement the CRPD and to make rights a reality for 15% of the world’s population who have disabilities – more than one billion people. Mullet noted that disability-inclusive strategies were adopted at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in May 2016, and are part of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) of March 2015.
UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Mogens Lykketoft highlighted other UN commitments on disability, including the UN Charter, the outcome document of the UNGA’s 2013 High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development, and the 2030 Agenda. In a press release, the UN notes specific references to disability in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including in the targets on education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, and data collection and monitoring.
COSP-9 agreed to hold COSP-10 at UN Headquarters in New York from 13-15 June 2017.
COSP-9 is the first UN meeting on disability to take place since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. The UN notes that 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, and that mental health conditions, including alcoholism, are among the ten leading causes of disability in both developed and developing countries. The UN ranks depression as third in the global burden of disease, and estimates that it will rank first by 2030. [UN Press Release] [Opening Remarks from UN Secretary-General] [Opening Remarks by UNGA President] [COSP-9 Webpage]