A delegation of Australian disability advocates is visiting the United Nations in New York to work with advocates from around the world on increasing efforts to include people with disability in the next phase of the global response to Covid.

Disabled Peoples’ Organisations Australia (DPOA) is participating in the 15th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) from June 13-17.

The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Building disability-inclusive and participatory societies in the Covid context and beyond’. Delegates will meet at various events and forums to debate and discuss issues and ideas which will improve how people with disability can live with safety, equity and dignity in a world where Covid has become endemic. This will include how people with disability are protected from Covid and be included in the planning and implementation of Covid responses.

The conference also includes three sub-themes: Innovation and technology advancing disability rights; Economic empowerment and entrepreneurship of persons with disabilities; and participation of persons with disabilities in climate action, disaster risk reduction and resilience against natural disasters.

DPOA delegates will be hosting three side event that will be showcased across DPOA’s website and social media during the conference. These include: 

Our Site: Empowering Women and Girls with Disability through Co–Design. How over 100 women with disability have collaborated to produce an acclaimed digital hub for information and resources on topics integral to the rights, health, safety and wellbeing of women with disability. Presented by: Women With Disabilities Australia;  Monitoring and evaluation of article 11 of the UNCRPD: Practical applications for the continuum of humanitarian emergencies. Approaches for improving safety and security of people with disability affected by the impact of armed conflicts, natural disasters and climate change. Co–presented by: People With Disability Australia, and Microbusiness and Customised Employment: Beyond the Pandemic How people with disability can use microbusiness models to create employment   opportunities, safeguard livelihoods and develop skills. Presented by: People With Disability Australia.

 The members of DPOA are: First People’s Disability Network (FPDN); People With Disability Australia (PWDA); Women With Disability Australia (WWDA) and National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA).

The civil society delegation will be working with representatives from the Australian Government delegation made up of representatives from the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC will attend virtually).

The delegation will be reporting back with news and updates throughout COSP with information posted across DPOA’s news channels.