Speakers in yesterday’s launch of the observance of the 2019 International Day of Persons with Disabilities - held at United Nations Headquarters in New York - stressed that the voices of persons with disabilities serve to make society more inclusive and sustainable and are essential to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event was hosted by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

On 17 December, the President of the 74th session of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande convened a High-level event for the closing of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, in line with 2018 General Assembly resolution 73/156.

Background

The Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its Programme of Action have guided multilateral action on social development since 1995. Adopted at the World Summit on Social Development (WSDD) in Copenhagen in March 1995, the Declaration emphasized the eradication of poverty as an ethical, social, political and economic imperative.

The Doha International Conference on Disability and Development was held on 7-8 December 2019, under the guidance and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Founder of Qatar Foundation for Social Work and its affiliated civil society centers.

Since 1992, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been annually observed on 3 December around the world. The theme for this 2019 IDPD is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.

Statement by Anne Nuorgam, Chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on the situation of Maria Eugenia Choque Quispe

The current situation in the Plurinational State of Bolivia is a matter of grave concern.  I call on all parties to make every effort to restore peace and stability in the country.

On Tuesday, 17 December 2019, the President of the UN General Assembly will convene a High-Level Event for the closing of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages in New York, in line with General Assembly resolution 73/156.

The event is organized in collaboration with UNESCO and UNDESA.

Participants:
Member States, Indigenous Peoples, UN-System organizations, Observers of the General Assembly and other relevant stakeholders

Registration is now closed.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 SDGs provide a powerful framework to guide local communities, countries and the international community toward the achievement of disability-inclusive development. The 2030 Agenda pledges to leave no one behind, including persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups and recognizes disability as a cross-cutting issue to be considered in the implementation of all of its goals.

National disability strategies and action plans can play an important role in coordinating and guiding the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (CRPD) by highlighting areas which will be prioritized at the national level. Disability strategies and action plans typically present measures and milestones which a country intends to reach by the end of the period covered by the strategy/plan.

Every year, the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch within the Division for Inclusive Social Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs organizes an international expert group meeting on a theme recommended by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and endorsed by the Economic and Social Council.

Expert Group Meeting
“Peace, justice and strong institutions: the role of indigenous peoples in implementing SDG 16”
19 – 21 November 2019
University of Chiang Mai, Thailand