Equal World statement at COSP16

Statement from Equal World Sightsavers at the 16th Conference of States Party to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, delivered by Aissata Ndiaye.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been effective for fifteen years. We’ve passed the mid-point of Agenda 2030.

And yet, as we have heard yesterday and today at the conference, we are far off track from realising the rights of persons with disabilities.

Member states need to intensify their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realise their obligations under the CRPD, especially considering the inequalities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequitable responses by governments.

The SDG Summit and the High-level meetings in September are important moments to re-invigorate progress towards our common goals.

We call on Member States to deliver robust and ambitious Political Declarations that include concrete commitments that will advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Specific actions are required to include persons with disabilities in development progress, as their exclusion undermines the realization of the SDGs.

We call on member states to make clear commitments to:

– Put in place robust legislation and policies, accompanied by clear accountability mechanism;

– Disaggregate data on the basis of disability, along-side other factors of exclusion;

– Ensure national budgetary processes are participatory and inclusive and aligned with the SDGs.

We call on Member States to take every opportunity to accelerate action towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and realising the rights of persons with disabilities as set out in the CRPD. Thank you for your attention.

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