Disability rights - Mission report from Country Visit to New York, United States

Document type
Report

A delegation from the EESC's permanent group on Disability Right participates in the Conference of State parties (COSP) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

From 9 to 12 June, a four-member delegation from the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) participated in the 18th Conference of States Parties (COSP18) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York.

COSP is the UN’s annual platform for reviewing the implementation of the CRPD, bringing together governments, civil society organisations, and disability rights advocates from around the world.

This year’s overarching theme was:
“Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the World Social Summit.”

The conference focused on three key sub-themes:

  • Innovative financing to empower persons with disabilities and support inclusive social policies;
  • Artificial intelligence as a tool to promote inclusion and ensure no one is left behind;
  • The rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities and their vital role in advancing disability inclusion.

EESC members joined the official EU delegation, alongside representatives from the European Commission’s DG JUST and members of the European Parliament’s EMPL, LIBE, and PETI Committees. They took part into the main sessions, participated in several side events, and attended a policy breakfast hosted by the EU Delegation in New York.

EESC member Dovilė Juodkaitė, Lithuania’s candidate for the upcoming UN CRPD Committee elections, presented the key recommendations from the EESC opinion SOC/816: “Including persons with disabilities in the development of new technologies and AI – possibilities, challenges, risks and opportunities .” She spoke during the main conference and at a side event co-organised by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum.

The EESC remains strongly committed to advancing disability rights, inclusion, and innovation—both in Europe and globally.