1/2
10th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities
President of the Conference H.E. Mr. Georgi Panayotov, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of Bulgaria to the UN
Closing Statement
Honourable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are coming to the end of this session.
First I would like to once again thank all States Parties for the confidence entrusted in us to organize and
convene this important session. We are grateful also to DESA and OHCHR for their support in preparing
the substantive part of the session, as well as to DGACM and the UN Secretariat as a whole for all the
assistance they rendered to the Bureau in the course of the last three days. Special thanks goes to the
interpreters as well for their professional work - often after hours for which we apologize.
The 10th session of the Conference was characterized by a very rich programme covering a wide range
of important issues related to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities.
We had a record number of speakers during the General Debate this year – around 130 in total. In the
Ministerial Segment we heard from more than 20 high-level speakers, including the First Lady of
Ecuador who opened the General Debate.
The three round table discussions during this year’s Conference focused on some of the most pertinent
issues for persons with disabilities with regard to the implementation of major global agreements of the
last couple of years – the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, commitments in the humanitarian
area and the New Urban Agenda – the success of which would largely depend on how we engage persons
with disabilities and take necessary action to empower them and ensure their full inclusion and
participation.
We had a very informative and useful exchange on the implementation of the Convention with the UN
system, the Chair of the CRPD Committee and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. An important takeout of this interactive segment is the need to further strengthen all UN
action with regard to the promotion and protection of the human rights of persons with disabilities as a
coherent and consistent policy within the UN system.
The traditional Civil Society Forum held on the day before the official opening of the Conference
provided valuable input to our deliberations and contributed to a more comprehensive overview and indepth analysis of the topics addressed by this Conference.
We witnessed more than 80 side events, performances and receptions during the 10th session. This year
for the first time Member States and other stakeholders were given the opportunity to also present
exhibitions within the framework of the Conference which helped in raising awareness about the key
principles of the Convention by utilizing the methods of art in conveying important messages about the
rights of persons with disabilities.
2/2
Our 10th Session was of particular importance as it formally started the Second Decade of the CRPD and
in line with our overarching theme States Parties committed to a more participatory and inclusive
implementation of the Convention in close cooperation with persons with disabilities themselves and
their representative organizations. In this regard, I believe our 10th session has set the norm for a more
meaningful implementation of Article 4.3 which should lead the way in the next decade and beyond. As
we are all aware the elaboration of the CRPD more than ten ago was a very inclusive process which led
to the adoption of a Convention that is unique in many ways – it is the only international human rights
treaty that recognizes the role in its implementation and monitoring of the people it is trying to impact.
It was in this spirit that the Bureau of this Conference under the leadership of Bulgaria has put a stronger
emphasis on the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations as well
as National Human Rights Institutions and other stakeholders in all deliberations related to the
implementation of the CRPD. More prominent role was accorded also to the CRPD Committee and the
Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities whose profound knowledge and valuable
expertise is instrumental for further strengthening the implementation of the Convention and assisting
States Parties in their efforts to deliver on their commitments.
The Conference can be viewed as a useful platform to forge partnerships among the different
stakeholders – Member States, persons with disabilities, civil society, NHRIs, the UN System, treaty
bodies, special procedures and others – with a view to further promoting the principles of the Convention
and ensuring that the human rights of over a billion persons with disabilities in the world are protected
and upheld.
The implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is further strengthened
by the ambitious and transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which for the first time
recognizes persons with disabilities as agents of change for sustainable development.
In this regard our deliberations during the 10th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD
had an added value for strengthening the inclusive implementation of the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that
achieving the SDGs would lead to the realization of all human rights of persons with disabilities and
their empowerment and inclusion in society on an equal basis with others. The key to sustainable
development is the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all decision-making
processes.
During our discussions a number of important issues were highlighted that need more attention and
concrete action both on the part of States Parties and the UN system as well in order to ensure that the
commitments with regard to the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda are fulfilled. One of the most pressing
issues that needs immediate attention is to ensure disaggregation of data by disability. In order to deliver
on the promise of the 2030 Agenda to leave no one behind and reach the furthest behind first, which
applies mainly to persons with disabilities who are often the most vulnerable in different circumstances,
we need to make sure that we collect quality data disaggregated by disability.
I believe the 10th Session was successful in delivering on its main goal as outlined in the overarching
theme – to ensure the inclusion and full participation of persons with disabilities and their representative
organizations in the implementation of the Convention, and I would like to assure you that the Bureau
remains committed to building on the successes of this Conference when we start the preparations for
the 11th Session later this year.
Thank you!