Commemorating Twenty Years of the CRPD, UN Conference Highlights “Slow Progress” Verdict
The article, originally sourced from 19th Session Of The Conference Of States Parties To The CRPD (COSP19) | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) has been rephrased.
The 19th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) took place at the UN Headquarters in New York from June 9 to 11, 2026. Under the theme “CRPD at 20: Celebrating and Consolidating Achievements and Shaping the Next Phase of Implementation in a Changing World,” the event marked twenty years since the treaty’s adoption by the General Assembly in December 2006.
In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised the conference as the foremost platform dedicated to promoting disability rights globally. He expressed appreciation for the contributions of ministers, policymakers, civil society, and individuals with lived experience, emphasizing that the CRPD shifted global perspectives from viewing disability through a medical or charitable lens to one rooted in human rights.
However, Guterres issued a sobering warning. Referencing the latest UN Disability and Development Report, he pointed out that nearly all indicators related to Sustainable Development Goals concerning persons with disabilities remain off track. Despite over 90 percent of countries having laws to protect their rights, progress remains sluggish. His blunt assessment: progress exists but is unacceptably slow.
Supporting this view, the data revealed that people with disabilities have a labor-force participation rate approximately 30 percent lower than those without disabilities. Additionally, disabled youth are twice as likely to be outside education, employment, or training opportunities. Globally, only about 25 percent of individuals with significant disabilities access social protection benefits, and affected households tend to spend a larger share of their income on healthcare. Guterres also highlighted the compounded crises—climate change, conflict, and rising living costs—that disproportionately impact persons with disabilities, often causing them to lose jobs, access, and sometimes their lives during emergencies.
The conference’s discussions centered around three key roundtables: preventing exploitation, violence, and abuse against persons with disabilities; strengthening care and support systems to foster independence; and broadening accessible civic participation and political leadership. A parallel Civil Society Forum, led by the International Disability Alliance, provided a platform for disability organizations to voice their perspectives directly.
A recurring theme was independent living. During a side event organized by the European Network on Independent Living, CRPD Committee member Markus Schefer acknowledged some progress, such as reduced reliance on large institutions in certain countries. Nonetheless, he flagged ongoing challenges—namely inaccessible housing, limited personal assistance, continued public funding of institutions, and the lack of concrete, time-bound plans for deinstitutionalization. Representatives from Belgium, Costa Rica, and the U.S. shared national reforms but warned that legal recognition alone has not translated into meaningful choice and control for disabled individuals on the ground.
The conference also linked to broader discussions stemming from the 2025 Second World Social Summit in Doha, framing disability inclusion within wider debates on inequality and social protection rather than treating it as a standalone issue.
COSP19 concluded without a binding outcome document but set a clear direction for the future: transforming two decades of legal recognition into tangible, funded, and enforceable changes. Officials and advocates agreed that this challenge will define the next twenty years of the Convention’s impact.
Additional sources: Slow Progress: Twenty Years of Disability Rights – Human Rights & Public Liberties./ António Guterres(UN Secretary-General) on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) | UN Web TV/ COSP19: CRPD at 20 — Are we any closer to Independent Living for all? – ENIL
