UNGA78 Third Committee
Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Mr Gerard Quinn
Joint statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic Countries, delivered by H.E. Ms. Elina Kalkku, Permanent Representative of Finland
New York, October 26, 2023
Chair,
I have the honour of speaking on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and my own country Finland.
We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s yet another timely report on the role of persons with disabilities in peacebuilding processes. Let me also take this occasion to thank Mr. Quinn for all his relentless work as Special Rapporteur.
As the report highlights, peacebuilding can be an opportunity to build a more inclusive society for all, including for persons with disabilities.
As a starting point, persons with disabilities are active rights holders with right to participate in decisions, which affect them. We need to include persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in different processes such as peacebuilding operations from the earliest possible moment. And in this work, it is important to include and treat equally persons whose disabilities are conflict related and those who are not. People in all of their diversity – with or without disabilities – should all have a voice in addressing wrongdoings of the past and in rebuilding a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable society for all.
Special Rapporteur,
Your report states that persons with disabilities are sidelined from peacebuilding processes because of stigma, discrimination, and lack of knowledge. What can member states do to address these root causes of exclusion?