UN Chief Antonio Guterres Urges For Inclusion Of Persons With Disabilities In Society

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. While addressing the countries that are parties to the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN chief said that aforesaid rights can be fully achieved by tackling injustices, obstacles, and discrimination that the disabled population experiences.Referring to the global action plan to bring about a more just and sustainable world Guterres said realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is important in order to fulfill the core promise of the 2030 Agenda that is ‘to leave no one behind’.  The 13th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention is taking place ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, commemorated on December 3 annually.Meanwhile, in May, Guterres issued a policy brief highlighting the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on persons with disabilities. He has called for pandemic response and recovery to be more disability-inclusive, starting with recognizing and guarding the human rights of persons with disabilities. He further emphasized that securing the rights of persons with disabilities is necessary for upholding the values and principles that underlie the UN.