U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S

Statement by

MR. THOMAS STELZER

ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR POLICY COORDINATION AND INTER-AGENCY AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS

Opening of the Fourth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

New York, 7 September 2011

Mr. Chairperson,

Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, it is my distinct pleasure to deliver this statement at this fourth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

DESA is honoured to serve as the Secretariat for the Conferenceof States Parties. At the outset, I would like to introduce you to Ms. Daniela Bas,

the new Director of the Division for Social Policy and Development of my Department. She took functions earlier this year in May and with her joining DESA

I am very pleased to report that DESA has a stronger Secretariat for the Conference.

In its four years to date, the Conference has established itself as a unique global forum for States parties and otherstakeholders to exchange ideas and information concerning the implementation of the Convention, and to take action to fulfill the United Nations’ commitment to promote full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society and development.

The Conference of States Parties provides participants and observers new opportunities to explore options for multi-stakeholder partnerships involving Member States, the UN system, civil society and other key actors. In this regard, I am pleased to note the broad participation in this meeting, which includesMember States, UN entities including regional commissions, and civil society, including organizations of persons with disabilities. I wish to emphasize the importance of our partners from civil society, who have, for the past two years, held a Civil Society Forum prior to the opening of the Conference of States Parties.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Persons with disabilities continue to be disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest, and face significant obstacles to the full enjoyment of their human rights. This session, "Enabling Development, Realizing the CRPD", is envisaged to promote disability-inclusive development and explore how we can galvanize our efforts toward inclusive and sustainable development for equitable and just society through implementation of the Convention.

A great many States have continued to demonstrate their commitment to redressing the challenges faced by persons with disabilities. One measure of the commitment of the international community is the signature and ratification of the Convention and its Optional Protocol. To date, there are 149 signatories and 103 ratifications of the Convention. Ninety States have signed and 62 have ratified the Optional Protocol. In December 2010, the European Union ratified the Convention, marking the first time that the Convention has been ratified by a regional body. Many States have also shown their commitment by taking specific policy measures to advance the rights of persons with disabilities at the national level. DESA, working together with other UN entities and partners in disability and development communities, will continue to support the efforts of Member States to use the Convention to furtherdisability-inclusive development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Under the theme of “Enabling Development, Realizing the CRPD through Participation, Employment and International Cooperation”, our Conference this year focuses on issues key to the advancement of persons with disabilities. These are:

  • The participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life, which is both a fundamental right and a pre-requisite for the enjoyment of other rights. Successful mainstreaming of disability in development processes, as called for by the General Assembly, cannot be achieved without the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
  • Access to employment. Although this is the most cost-effective method of reducing poverty among persons with disabilities, their families and their communities, persons with disabilities face disproportionately higher unemployment. The global economic crisis presents an additional challenge that we must overcome in guaranteeing the rights of persons with disabilities to decent work and employment.
  • International Cooperation. There are over one billion people with disabilities in the world today and the prevalence of disability is on the rise. More than 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries and evidence shows that persons with disabilities experience higher rates of poverty than people without disabilities. Through effective and disability-inclusive international cooperation, the international community can improve the living conditions of persons with disabilities, particularly in developing countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As the deadline for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals draws near, we must seize the opportunities before us to ensure the inclusion of disability in any emerging development frameworks.

In June 2012, the international community will gather in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio +20. It is imperative that we ensure the inclusion of the social pillar of sustainable development, and adisability perspective within that pillar, in the dialogue and outcome of this meeting.

The General Assembly is expected to convene a high-level meeting on disability and development at itssixtyseventh session in 2012. This envisaged high-level meeting could provide a critical opportunity to review and further strengthen efforts to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of development.

The Department of Economic and Social Affairs looks forward to these coming few days to explore options for further enhanced cooperation and partnerships with States parties and other Member States, entities of the UN system, civil society and other stakeholders to advance our shared mission: the realization of the promise of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the mainstreaming of disability in all aspects of development.