UN Human Rights Council 46: UK Statement on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The UK's International Human Rights Ambassador, Rita French delivered this statement during the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Thank you, Madam President,
The United Kingdom welcomes the Special Rapporteur’s report outlining his vision of the mandate.
The UK Government recognises that engaging and involving disabled people and their representatives in COVID-19 policy development is crucial in addressing the challenges they face at this time. The UK is doing this in a number of ways, for example, we have formed a stakeholder group with disability charities and accessibility experts to provide a platform to discuss changes in COVID-19 guidance and ensure communications are accessible and inclusive. We also work closely with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that, the needs of disabled people are considered in the Government’s response to COVID-19.
The UK is now developing a National Strategy for Disabled People to ensure that all disabled people can play a full role in society. The strategy will take into account the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on disabled people, and will focus on the issues that they say affect them the most in all aspects of life.
We would like to ask, what best practice examples has the Special Rapporteur seen of disability-inclusive responses to COVID-19?
Thank you.