With its first ever candidate running for election to a UN Human Rights Treaty Body, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this session of the COSP will be an historic moment for the EU. All 27 EU Member States endorsed the decision to present Ms Inmaculada Placencia Porrero as the EU candidate for the UN CRPD committee.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first human rights convention to which the European Union became a party. In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030. With this ten-year strategy, the European Commission aims to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Europe and around the world.

The EU is more committed than ever to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, both within the Union and globally. We are proud to support Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, our first ever EU candidate for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Her extensive experience and unwavering dedication to the cause will undoubtedly make a decisive contribution to the committee's work, promoting fundamental values and impacting lives worldwide.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

As party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU places its implementation high on the agenda and has ensured that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations are part of the process. The roll-out of the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is well underway and we are actively mainstreaming a disability perspective into all policy areas. Ensuring the full enjoyment of rights by all is at the heart of our Union of Equality.

Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality

European Union

While in New York, Commissioner Dalli will co-host a working breakfast for EU ministers with the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On 11 June, the Commissioner will attend the opening session of the COSP, on the theme of ‘Rethinking disability inclusion in the current international juncture and ahead of the Summit of the Future’ and the elections to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In addition to hosting an EU side event on the Role of Strategies for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, she will deliver the keynote speech at a side event on Access to employment for persons with disabilities, organised by Belgium.

In the afternoon, Commissioner Dalli will deliver the EU Statement at the General Debate of the COSP.

On Tuesday evening, the Commissioner will provide a welcome introduction at the joint EU-Finland networking reception.

In addition to her bilateral meetings with ministers and other interlocutors, Commissioner Dalli will have an exchange of views with leaders from the private sector on a range of issues.

Follow Commissioner Dalli on X: @helenadalli

Follow the EU Delegation to the UN on X: @EUatUN

BACKGROUND

The Conference of the State Parties is an annual event. This year, the COSP will elect nine members to the 18-member Committee on the Rights of Persons with disabilities to replace members whose term expires on 31 December 2024. Through its Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, the EU has demonstrated its strong commitment as a global advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities through development cooperation, humanitarian action and dialogue with the international UNCRPD community. The nomination of Ms. Inmaculada Placencia Porrero as the EU candidate the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a natural extension of the EU’s commitment to promoting implementation of the Convention globally.