Sri Lanka assumed the chairmanship of the 18th session of the Conference of State Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which commenced in New York this week.
The 18th session of the COSP to the CRPD will be held from 10-12 June 2025 under the overarching theme ‘Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development’.
The CRPD was adopted in 2006 and came into force in May 2008. The 192 Member States of the CRPD demonstrate a strong and unwavering commitment to the rights and advancement of persons with disabilities.
Assuming the Presidency of the 18th session of the COSP to the CRPD, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York, Jayantha Jayasuriya, stressed that the international commitments to equality and empowerment of persons with disabilities has been strengthened in the past decades, since the adoption of the Convention. Ambassador Jayasuriya also noted the importance of full realization of the rights and inclusive development for persons with disabilities in the world.
Delivering the national statement, Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment Upali Pannilage underscored that since ratifying the CRPD in 2016, Sri Lanka has taken continuous steps to align national laws and policies with its principles. He stressed that the Government’s policy on persons with disabilities is deeply committed to inclusivity, ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal representation in all areas of public life. Referring to the appointment of a visually impaired person to Parliament under the National List, Pannilage emphasized that such actions supported the vision of the Government to guarantee that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard in the decision-making process.
Speaking on the initiatives of the Government to strengthen the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, Pannilage highlighted some key areas where progress has been achieved, including the new Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in line with the principles and obligations of the CRPD; the new draft bill to recognize sign language as an official medium of communication in the country to recognize the importance of accessible communication and the right of persons with hearing impairments to express themselves freely and independently; and the new accessibility regulations being drafted to align with current needs and international best practices.
The discussions of the 18th COSP will be based on three roundtables, namely, Empowering persons with disabilities and enhancing social development policies through innovative financing; Leaving no one behind: using Artificial Intelligence as a tool for supporting inclusivity to strengthen the participation of persons with disabilities; and Recognizing and addressing the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities and their role in advancing disability inclusion.
Following the Roundtable discussions, Ambassador Jayasuriya will chair an Interactive Dialogue among States parties, the United Nations Agencies, and other stakeholders on the implementation of the Convention. (Newswire)