DELIVERED BY Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights AT Side Event, 56th Session of the Human Rights Council LOCATION Geneva Madame Minister, Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Dear Participants, I am really pleased that we were able to co-organise this event at the initiative of Italy. I remember the conversation that I had with the Minister in January, both in regards to what is happening in Italy - on disability inclusion and the different roadmaps that you have developed - but also with respect to Italy’s G7 presidency and what it is doing at the global level. It is really important that the issue of disabilities is at the centre of discussions not just at the United Nations but, also, much more broadly. We are at a crucial moment when it comes to advancing disability rights. And I think we can all agree it is, indeed, a shared priority - an area that rises above the political fray. One that brings States and communities together in a common mission to respond to the diverse needs of societies – to be truly inclusive of all people with disabilities. And I think if we have learnt one lesson in the human rights movement from the disability movement, it is “nothing about us, without us”. Frankly, this applies to all areas of human rights. I regret, though, that I address you knowing we are unable to provide accessibility services for this event. It is a casualty of the ongoing liquidity crisis, which means we are not able to live our values as we would wish to. My colleagues have been working tirelessly to limit discriminatory impacts from the prioritization we are being forced to undertake. So, we have prioritized accessibility for reports to the Council, for example. Still, it is frustrating to know we cannot provide this in each and every instance for which we should be able to do this. It actually shows some of the real-world consequences of these financial constraints. And it says something about the current state of play when it comes to the rights of persons with disabilities. As well as the urgent need to translate words into action. At the end of the day, this is a matter of political will. Looking ahead at the next twelve months, we have a unique opportunity to connect the many efforts that are taking place at global level, and to strategize together on how we can ensure that no one is left behind in the 2030 Agenda and beyond. This requires decisive action - unified action - at the international level so we can accelerate systemic change that is needed in societies everywhere. Many States have been championing disability rights in different fora. The hosting by Italy of the first-ever ministerial G7 meeting on disability inclusion in October is an important moment. I hope that discussions there will inspire greater ambition for the outcomes of next year’s Global Disability Summit, and also identify new ways of collaborating. Alongside this, Mexico and New Zealand, as well as the groups of friends on disability rights in Geneva and New York, continue to mobilize political support for the rights of persons with disabilities, and on care and support systems in particular, including in relation to the Pact for the Future. And I hope that the Pact for the Future will integrate the issues of disabilities and diversity more generally into the framework to revitalize multilateralism. We also see renewed efforts to bring much-needed attention to disability rights in the context of humanitarian action and armed conflict – including the desperate situation for children with disabilities. When we look back at our Human Rights 75 Initiative which we launched last year, if we consider the pledges – we have more than thirty States who pledged to advance action on the rights of persons with disabilities. I think this is an important indicator. We continue to urge States to establish human rights-based care and support systems, including full alignment with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. And to ensure that the voice of people with disabilities is key to the shaping of these systems. I welcome the progress we have seen in a number of countries, including Australia, Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Kenya and the Philippines, as well as in the European Union. And how this momentum has filtered through to resolutions on care and support systems at the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council, and the Economic and Social Council. So we must really ensure that these upcoming milestones become a turning point for disability rights. I invite you all to strengthen your engagement with my Office towards our common goal – not only strategically, but also through political and financial support. We will continue to strengthen our partnerships in this area, in particular with ILO. And we can only hope that the identified priorities of the G7 on disability rights – accessibility, independent living in the community, access to support services and technologies, and disability inclusion in all aspects of life, including during emergencies – will generate a breakthrough moment. Let us work together to bring maximum effort to shaping the political declaration of the World Social Summit next year – so that disability rights are mainstreamed throughout and we secure strong language on care and support systems. In a way, the G7 meeting and the Global Disability Summit will provide important catalysts to achieve this goal. We must make sure this moment does not become one of lost opportunity but rather one we can extract the most advantage from. Thank you.