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The side event was held on 14th June 2024, during the 17th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP17). The side-event was in line with one of the three sub-themes for COSP17, “promoting decent work and sustainable livelihoods”. Hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya in collaboration with the World Food Programme, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), SightSavers, Safaricom Plc, Christian Blind Mission, Don Bosco Development Outreach Network and Development Initiatives, the event served as a platform for sharing insights and strengthening partnerships.
The event had three objectives:
- Sharing insights: The event highlighted insights from collaborative efforts between governments, development partners, the private sector, and organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Showcasing successful models and practices.
- Strategic discussions: Strategies to enhance the capacity of persons with disabilities to achieve a more meaningful, productive, and satisfying way of life were discussed. The goal was to empower individuals to become self-reliant, productive, and positively contributing members of society.
- Highlighting initiatives: The event highlighted completed decent work profiles and sustainable livelihood programs by the partners. By demonstrating the impact of inclusive employment practices, the event emphasized the tangible benefits for individuals and communities.
The event’s discussions expressed a transformative journey towards inclusive employment and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. Through collaboration and innovation, Kenya demonstrated its vision to reshape society’s perspectives on work, dignity, and inclusivity. Some of the strategies highlighted during the discussions were towards enhancing employment opportunities including; promoting inclusive hiring practices; entrepreneurship initiatives; establishment of robust social protection mechanisms and community-based services for sustainable economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. Through this event, Kenya and its partners sought to spark a conversation on ways to build a more equitable and inclusive society, where everyone can realize their full potential.
For more information about the conference, please visit: https://social.desa.un.org/issues/disability/cosp/17th-session-of-the-conference-of-states-parties-to-the-crpd-cosp17
Source: Permanent Mission of Kenya to the UN