Welcome to the United Nations
The side event "Raising Awareness of the Potential of Persons with Disabilities in Various Areas of Social Life and Professional Activity", organized by the Polish Government with the support of the European Union, was held on 11 June 2025, during the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18). The event aimed to exchange experiences and deepen reflection on the importance of respecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in various aspects of social and professional life, with a view of implementing the provisions of Article 8 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which obliges states parties to take effective measures to increase public awareness of the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, as well as to promote knowledge of their potential, abilities and contribution to the development of society.
The discussion was attended by high-level representatives of the States Parties to the Convention, EU institutions, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, including: Mr. Łukasz Krasoń, Secretary of State, Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities, Poland, Ms. Robyn Shannon, Deputy Secretary, Department of Disability and Carers, Australia, Ms. Ana Carla Pereira, Director, Equality and Non-Discrimination, European Commission, Ms. Abir Al-Sahlani, Member of the European Parliament, Ms. Juliana Bustamante, Director, Human Rights, Colombia, , Mr. Peter Dawkins, Chief, Website Section, UN Department of Global Communications, Mr. Alejandro Moledo, Deputy Director of the European Disability Forum, Member of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
The event’s exchange of mutual experiences allowed the participants to analyze good practices and identify areas requiring further action. The participants unanimously emphasized the need to continue international cooperation and educational initiatives in order to build a more open and inclusive society. Actions to increase social awareness and full participation of people with disabilities in social and professional life remain one of the key priorities of equality policy in Poland. As part of the work of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which has been ongoing since January this year, in reference to Article 8 of the UN Convention, a draft declaration of the EU Member States was prepared draft of the Declaration on Raising Awareness of Persons with Disabilities. The aim of the event was for the States Parties to the Convention to also benefit from the Declaration prepared by Poland as part of raising awareness about persons with disabilities, and to draw on the ideas contained in the Declaration.
The purpose of the Declaration is to encourage EU Member States to take action to raise public awareness of persons with disabilities in cooperation with public media. The draft of the Declaration was met with great appreciation and approval by representatives of the EU Member States and non-governmental organisations, as well as interest from delegates from other countries.
UN WebTv recording: Watch here