Intervention by the Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, Amb. Martín García Moritán

June 12

Your excellencies, dear colleagues and friends,

It is an honor for Argentina to host with Israel this panel discussion on the occasion of the 11th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

We consider that it is a very timely discussion to address this issue, with a central importance on the agenda of the rights of people with disabilities at the United Nations.

People with disabilities have to deal with several barriers to social inclusion, mainly in the field of employment. It is of utmost importance for States to address the remaining challenges in this topic to fully guarantee their right to work on an equal basis with others.

Our countries are very active at the United Nations when it comes to the agenda of the rights of people with disabilities, within the framework of the negotiations of the General Assembly resolutions or with regards to the implementation of Agenda 2030, in which disability is recognized as a cross-cutting issue. In this context, the transversal principle ‘No one should be left behind’ applies directly to people with disabilities.

The international community has expressly recognized the need to guarantee access to employment in SDG 8 and its targets, that refer to the 'achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for (…) persons with disabilities´. As a matter of fact, SDG 8 is closely intertwined with article 27 of UN CRPD which establishes the State's responsibility to safeguard and promote the realization of the right to work on an equal basis with others, in a work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities. Therefore, we consider that CRPD should serve as the main guiding framework for implementing the SDGs in order to realize the full inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

In Argentina, since the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of People with disabilities in 2008, which has constitutional standing, our national legislation has incorporated the principles enshrined in the Convention and served as a basis for the development of a national system for the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.

The National Disability Plan was launched in Argentina last year as a main priority of the Government, focused on three guiding principles: inclusion, diversity and community's commitment by the coordination of different government agencies and the involvement of civil society. It is also intended to empowering the existing governmental policies: the obligation to guarantee a minimum quota of workers with disabilities in the public sector and the promotion of access to employment and the possibility of obtaining, maintaining and progressing in protected and/or regular employment in the public and/or private sector.

We look forward to listening to the panel today which will present government´s actions and private sector initiatives for inclusive employment. We stand ready to work together with governments, the United Nations system, civil society and all relevant actors to redouble our efforts to respect and ensure the equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities.

 

Thank you.