Press release - Conclusion of UN disability rights conference attended by MEPs

MEPs took part in the 19th Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York from 9 to 11 June. A delegation of MEPs joined the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) from Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 June. They were led by Li Andersson (The Left, FI), Chair of Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee. The delegation also included MEPs from the Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs Committee and the Petitions Committee. MEPs Giusi Princi (EPP, IT), Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (EPP, ES), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D, MT), Assita Kanko (ECR, BE), and Katrin Langensiepen (Greens/EFA, DE) joined the delegation. They held bilateral meetings on issues facing persons with disabilities and participated in several side events on this year’s topic: the 20th anniversary of the UN CRPD, with subthemes on strengthening care and support systems and boosting the political participation of persons with disabilities. Alongside other meetings where parliamentarians contributed as speakers, the European Parliament co-hosted an event with UNICEF, the International Labour Organisation, and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights on the role of the private sector in providing for inclusive care and support for persons with disabilities. Watch a recording of the event. After the visit, head of delegation Li Andersson said: “This delegation has been a particularly important one as the UN CRPD celebrated its 20th birthday. There is still a lot of work to be done to translate the core principles of the convention into practical action for people with disabilities. The EU is a key global player in times when multilateralism and human rights are under attack. One of the EU’s key tasks must be to bring its long-term budget in line the convention, also when it comes to earmarking funds for persons with disabilities and their organisations.”