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Annual debate on the rights of persons with disabilities
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March 14, 2022

Annual debate on the rights of persons with disabilities 

Statement as Prepared for Delivery by Special Advisor on International Disability Rights, Sara Minkara 

Human Rights Council – 49th Session 

Note: Due to time Council time constraints, the following statement could not be delivered in the Council chamber.  The text has been provided to the Council Secretariat for the official record.

March 14, 2022 

Thank you, Mr. President.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires States Parties to take measures so that persons with disabilities can participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure, and sporting activities.

The U.S. Department of State supports disability-specific and disability-inclusive programming that emphasizes inclusion, access, and empowerment.  The shared passion of sports on a global scale and the universal experience of taking part in sports make this platform powerful.

We support collection of disability disaggregated data which is needed to inform policy decisions that can improve living conditions for persons with disabilities worldwide.  The U.S. government uses disability data to shape local, state, and national policies, programs and services in education, health, housing, and employment.

The Washington Group on Disability Statistics provides information on disability that is comparable worldwide.  It promotes international cooperation on health statistics, focusing on developing disability measures suitable for census and national surveys.

Question:  How does the presence of multiple intersecting identities, such as the influence of gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ethnicity factor into disability status?

Thank you.