WEI is excited to take part in this year’s Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)* —the largest annual global gathering of States, civil society, UN agencies, and other actors dedicated to ensuring disability rights. After two years of virtual meetings, we will be returning in part to the United Nations Headquarters in New York —our first time back since 2019— while also hosting and co-hosting several virtual side events from June 13 to 17 for our entire global community.
For this 15th session of COSP, the overarching theme is Building Disability-Inclusive and Participatory Societies in the COVID Context and Beyond. Subthemes include Innovation and Technology Advancing Disability Rights; Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship of Persons with Disabilities, and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Climate Action, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Resilience against Natural Disasters. It is imperative to have the voices and perspectives of women, girls, and gender minorities with disabilities on each of these topics, and so we are energized to have WEI team members, together with partners and advocates on the ground to ensure we have a seat at the table.
Please also join us online for our side-events!
1. Generation Equality Comes to CoSP: Ensuring the Participation of Women, Girls, and Non-binary Persons with Disabilities in Advancing Gender Equality
Sponsored by the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership.
What: Women, girls, and gender minorities with disabilities are an essential part of the movement for women’s rights and gender equality. The Generation Equality movement is working to accelerate gender equality through 2026, and feminists with disabilities are an imperative part of this work. Join the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership to find out more about the Generation Equality process and how feminists with disabilities can be involved.
When: Monday, June 13, 10 am to 11:15 am (EDT)
Where: Zoom – Register here.
2. Equal Rights for Women and Girls with Disabilities: Leveraging the Power of Innovation and Technology to Ensure Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Co-sponsored by UNFPA, Finland, and WEI
What: Join the Permanent Mission of Finland, UNFPA & Women Enabled International for a rich discussion on good practices from around the world on leveraging the power of innovation and technology to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls with disabilities.
When: 16 June, 08.30 – 09.45 AM (EDT)
Where: Zoom – Register here.
3. Using Technology to Bring Together Women and Gender Minorities with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Co-sponsored by WEI, Canada, CREA, and Disability Rights Fund
What: Join WEI, CREA, Disability Rights Fund, and the Government of Canada for a CoSP15 side event where gender and disability rights advocates from around the world will be discussing the ways in which technology brought them together, the challenges it posed, and the good practices that remained.
When: June 17, 10 am – 11:15 am
Where: Zoom. Register here.
WEI is excited for this new session of CoSP and the opportunity to work together with partners to highlight issues at the intersection of gender and disability. We hope you’ll join us in these events.
We are looking forward to meeting you there!
*More information on the 15th session of CoSP is available here.