MIKTA Joint Statement at the18th Conference of State Parties to the CRPD

MIKTA Joint Statement

General Debate of the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

New York, June 11, 2025

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the MIKTA countries – Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Türkiye, and Australia – at the 18^th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This year’s overarching theme offers us a timely opportunity to measure the progress we have made towards the full implementation of the Copenhagen Declaration and Program of Action, in the lead-up to the Second World Summit for Social Development this November, and the contribution of social development to advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), wide gaps persist between persons with disabilities and those without disabilities. The UN Disability and Development Report 2024 shows particularly larger gaps of over 20 percentage points in the areas of multidimensional poverty and employment.

For women and Indigenous persons with disabilities, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and persons with disabilities living in rural areas, the gaps are even wider, with greater vulnerability to multiple forms of discrimination, violence and abuse, negative stereotypes, and social exclusion.

This is also a reflection that, 30 years after the first World Summit for Social Development, major discrepancies remain in the three pillars of social development – poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all, as well as social integration.

In this regard, seeking ways to address these gaps should be at the center of renewing our commitments in the Copenhagen Declaration, as persons with disabilities account for 15% of the world’s population.

We should strive to better reflect the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities in the outcome of the Second World Summit for Social Development through constructive discussions among all Member States.

With that, it is also crucial that our effort to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Copenhagen Declaration are consistent with the CRPD. The role and mandate of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to monitor how the Convention is being implemented, is essential in this regard.

The general principles of the CRPD include respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons, non-discrimination, full and effective participation and inclusion in society, and serve as a consolidated foundation with a human rights perspective to bridge the gaps faced by persons with disabilities.

We call on all States Parties to step up their effort to implement the Convention, including ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities to education, health, work and employment, and an adequate standard of living, as articulated in the Convention.

Building on this effort, we should also recognize that emerging challenges, such as climate change and the misuse of new and emerging technologies, can disproportionately affect persons with disabilities. MIKTA countries will continue to make efforts to better address these challenges.

We, MIKTA countries, have an unwavering commitment to addressing global challenges through dialogue and cooperation, based on shared core principles of democracy, strengthening the multilateral system, and upholding international law.

MIKTA remains fully committed to the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities based on these principles, and calls on all States Parties to join us in this effort.

Thank you. / END /