A delegation representing the European Disability Forum attended the 17th session of the Conference of States Parties (CoSP), an annual gathering dedicated to discussing the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Our delegation had a productive week, with key contributions from Catherine Naughton, Executive Director, and Marion Steff, International Cooperation Manager. The event also saw the presence of representatives from our members, other European organisations and European policymakers – including the European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli. Representatives from our members from Belgium, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden were present, including our Vice-President, Gunta Anca, as part of the Latvian delegation.
Our contribution
Gunta Anca delivered speeches during the Civil Society Forum and the Conference itself, highlighting our humanitarian efforts in Ukraine as well as our work on inclusive employment work. Catherine Naughton contributed to our -co-hosted with the EU – discussing strategies for disability inclusion
We contributed to various side events, including those focusing on Ukraine and Gaza, and held bilateral meetings with representatives from the International Disability Alliance, and from the governments of Italy, Ireland, Germany, and Poland. We met Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, donors, and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Heba Hagrass.
We also participated in a high-level breakfast organised by the EU delegation in New York in collaboration with the Belgian Presidency. This event facilitated deeper discussions on disability inclusion at a strategic level.
EU high-level breakfast with the Belgium presidency
The EU Delegation in New York hosted a high-level breakfast with EU member states before the kick-off of CoSP. The Commissioner for Equality Dalli gave a short speech, as did the Belgian presidency. CRPD committee member Markus Schefer highlighted some important points in view of the review of the EU next year, emphasizing the role of the EU and the legal responsibilities of the EU and its Member States.
The new UN Special Rapporteur Hagrass was present and stressed the importance of EU support to ensure that the UN Summit of the Future (22nd and 23rd September) is disability inclusive. The Commissioner highlighted the impact the EU can have in the Global Digital Compact, given the EU’s track record on digital accessibility and inclusion. EU member states such as Poland, Hungary, Belgium, and Malta took the floor and wished the EU candidate for the CRPD committee elections a successful outcome. Ireland highlighted the rich range of side events that EU member states have organised and co-organised.
EDF’s Vice President Gunta Anca also took the floor to comment on the very active recent EU presidencies, such as those of Spain and Belgium, which worked together to ensure that the European Directive for the European Disability Card and Parking Card was agreed upon in record speed.
Elections for the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
We attended the elections of new members of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) and extend our congratulations to all newly elected members. It is noteworthy that the EU proposed a candidate to the Committee for the first time, marking a historic moment with the election of Inmaculada Placencia Porrero.
Global Disability Summit
Germany and Jordan launched the new commitments platform for the Global Disability Summit, set to take place on the 2 and 3 of April 2025 in Berlin. During the side event, the EU discussed its 2022 commitments, emphasizing that the process has raised awareness within EU institutions and improved accountability. The EU reaffirmed its readiness to participate actively for the Summit in 2025. Our regional summit on international cooperation and humanitarian, which will take place in Berlin on 6 December, co-organised with Germany and the German Disability Council, was also regularly mentioned.
More detailed information
- Overview of EDF at CoSP
- Key messages at the Civil Society Form by the International Disability Alliance (11th June 2024)
- Dovile Juodkaite: new candidate to the CRPD committee 2026 for Lithuania (in Lithuanian)