The Conference of State Parties is an annual event organised by the United Nations. During the Conference, participants discuss the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Participants include representatives of the State Parties (countries and regional organisations that ratified the Convention), civil society organisations (such as organisations of persons with disabilities) and disability rights experts (such as the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and academics).

The 17th session of the Conference of State Parties to the UN CRPD (COSP17) will take place from 11-13 June 2024 in New York. The overarching theme is “Rethinking disability inclusion in the current international juncture and ahead of the Summit of the Future”.

Three subthemes:

• Sub-theme 1: International cooperation to promote technology innovations and transfer for an inclusive future
• Sub theme 2: Persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies
• Sub theme 3: Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities to decent work and sustainable livelihood

Election of the members of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will take place on 11 June.

The COSP17 will be held in in-person, with its opening meetings in the General Assembly Hall. The General Debate will be organised and will begin on the first day of the conference. Roundtables and side events will be also held. 

Official Webpage Provisional agenda

Draft programme Agenda in Easy to Read

Three candidates from Europe are running to be a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

• Importantly, the European Union nominated a candidate for the first time : Inmaculada Placencia Porrero
• The State of Georgia nominated George Dzneladze
• The State of North Macedonia nominated Elena Kochoska (read her blog post)

Learn about all the candidates on the website of the International Disability Alliance

• Civil Society Forum: EDF’s Vice-President Gunta Anca will speak about humanitarian action.
• 11 June: EDF’s Vice-President Gunta Anca as speaker in General Debate
• 12 June: EDF’s Vice-President Gunta Anca in roundtable 2: Persons with disabilities in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies

• Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Crisis Response Situations, 10 June, 11:30-23:45 EST Conference Room 12, organised by the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations – Catherine Naughton, Executive Director of the European Disability Forum, moderates the event.
• Strenghtening the protection of refugees and migrants with disabilities, 10 June 2024, 13:15-14:30 EST , organised by Permanent Mission of the Republic of Latvia to the UN – Gunta Anca, Vice-President of the European Disability Forum, speaks on “Ukrainian refugees with disabilities in Europe: a regional response”.
• The role of Strategies for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 11 June 2024, 13:15-14:30 EST – organised by the European Union to the UN and supported by the European Disability Forum
• The Future of Disability Rights is Feminist, 12 June 17:00 – 21:00 EST, organised by Women Enabled International and co-sponsored by the European Disability Forum among others.

1. You can follow the General Debate live 
2. You can attend the side events in person, and some online
3. You can tweet using the official hashtag: #COSP17
4. Other hashtags: #COSP #GlobalGoals and #EveryoneIncluded
5. Read the International Disability Alliance’s guide for the COSP