UNITAR Participation in International Day of Persons with Disabilities - A Day for All

3 December 2015, Geneva, Switzerland – On the occasion of the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities: A Day for All", the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) hosted a brown bag lunch at the Palais des Nations to discuss the linkages between disability and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The brown bag lunch included a presentation on the 2030 Agenda and its specific implications for persons with disabilities, particularly stemming from goals 4, 8, 10, 11 and 17.  In addition, UNITAR presented its new e-Learning course entitled, “The Human Rights-Based Approach to Disability,” jointly developed with the Inter-Agency Support Group for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (IASG).

In the afternoon, UN agencies, civil society organizations and permanent missions came together for the unveiling of an artistic intervention at the ‘broken chair’ monument located in front of the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  This event celebrated the strides that have been made in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities and reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to embrace human diversity.  Mr. Alex Mejia spoke on behalf of UNITAR's Executive Director, Assistant Secretary-General Nikil Seth, to ratify the organization’s commitment to supporting and advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through capacity-building initiatives. Several other speakers shared remarks, including the Permanent Representatives of Australia, Ecuador, Thailand and the United States of America. The event was hosted by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Ms. Catalina Devandas Aguilar of Costa Rica.

Almost at the same time, Ambassador Luis Gallegos, a Senior Fellow of UNITAR, participated in the activities of the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities" in New York. He delivered a statement entitled, "Capacity Building and the Call to Action" and moderated a panel on taking actions for persons with invisible disabilities, particularly in the context of mental health and wellbeing. The panel was inaugurated by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who stated, "We mark this year's international Day of Person with Disabilities in the wake of the ambitious 2030 Agenda fo Sustainable Development. This global blueprint for action summons us to leave no one behind.

Photo 1: UNITAR hosted a brown bag lunch to discuss the linkages between disability and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Photo 2: The 'broken chair' monument in Place des Nations received a prosthesis in honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities: A Day for All.

Photo 3: Representatives of UN agencies, civil society organizations and permanent missions spoke in commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities: A Day for All