We warmly congratulate Inmaculada Placencia Porrero on her election as a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This was the first time that the European Union—acting as a regional integration body—presented a candidate to a United Nations human rights treaty body.
We believe Inmaculada Placencia Porrero is an excellent addition to the Committee. She has extensive knowledge of the Convention and how to apply it in policymaking, as well as a comprehensive understanding of the European reality.
Background
Inmaculada Placencia Porrero is a Senior Expert on Disability at the European Commission, leading work on the rights of persons with disabilities with a focus on accessibility and assistive technologies. She has led the development of several policies and legislation, such as the landmark European Accessibility Act.
When applying to the Committee, she said:
Disability policies must be designed to benefit all of society but most of all to ensure that persons with disabilities have effective access to their rights and improve their socio-economic participation and situation.
I have over 30 years of expertise in the area of disability. Throughout those years, I have worked passionately and constructively with organisations representing persons with disabilities, public administrations, experts, human rights defenders, and industry to advance the development of disability policy, legislation, action plans and strategies across the areas covered by the UNCRPD in the European Union and internationally.
I will strongly contribute to advancing the dialogues with State Parties in the area of accessibility and new technologies where solutions should be of a global nature, particularly in the area of ICT. I will also work on promoting independent living and access of persons with disabilities to services, education, and the labour market.
The Committee will be enriched with expertise in terms of cooperation and join efforts among states, gained working within the only Regional Integration Organisation that is currently a party to the UNCRPD. Mutual learning among regions and countries is essential to advance the UNCRPD agenda.
Other Committee members elected
The other elected members are:
- Mara Cristina Gabrilli (Brazil)
- Magino Corporán Lorenzo (Dominican Republic)
- Floyd Morris (Jamaica)
- Hiroshi Tamon (Japan)
- Gerel Dondovdorj (Mongolia)
- Abdelmajid Makni (Morocco)
- Christopher Nwanoroi (Nigeria)
- Natalia Guala Beathyate (Uruguay)
Their term will start on 1 January 2025 and run until the end of 2028.