L’Arche at the United Nations
L’Arche representatives from Mexico, Spain, Argentina, and the United States participated in the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP18) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to help amplify the voices of our members, learn together with our partners, and continue to work together to help build a world where everyone is valued and belongs.
This annual meeting among governments, organizations, and advocates happens because of an UN human rights agreement affirmed by almost every country in the world (CRPD). Much progress has happened – and there is more work to be done!
The conference is an important global space in which L’Arche works to share from our experiences our learnings and ideas and to enter into dialogue with partners. Together, we can bring forward a transformed society – a world of dignity, rights, opportunities, and community.
For this reason, L’Arche delivered a statement addressing one of the key themes of the Conference this year. The statement highlights key ways we can work together in our world to help enhance social development policies through innovative financing, starting with ensuring the leadership and meaningful participation of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities so that assessments and decision-making are well-informed and effective.
The statement also called on our world to invest beyond services – investment is needed for programs that help build strong relationships and networks of support that are essential for a person’s success, to invest in outreach and visibility programming for greater impact and influence, and in programs that work to directly address stigma.
Our financial decisions reflect our values. Let us recognize the value and contributions of every person and our interconnectedness. Today, many people are excluded, isolated – our societies are distracted, disconnected, and polarized. Our world will only meet our sustainable development goals when everyone belongs. At L’Arche, we work to be authentically present – to listen, learn, and create progress together. We celebrate diversity and know that community is a powerful resource for change. Let us invest in human connection, community, and genuine participation. Human connection and community are vital human needs, and they are essential for true progress. Let us invest beyond services – let us invest in belonging.
What is the Conference of States Parties (COSP)?
The Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) brings together people with disabilities, family members and friends, support professionals and organizations along with government and UN officials in dialogue and work. It is centered around the CRPD which is the international agreement to ensure the dignity and rights, full social inclusion and opportunities of people with disabilities.
The theme this year at the conference was “Enhancing public awareness of the rights and contributions of persons with disabilities for social development leading up to the Second World Summit for Social Development.” The three sub-themes were:
- Empowering persons with disabilities and enhancing social development policies through innovative financing.
- Leaving no one behind: using AI as a tool for supporting inclusivity to strengthen the participation of persons with disabilities.
- Recognising and addressing the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities and their role in advancing disability inclusion.
Why does L’Arche participate in COSP?
L’Arche holds special consultative status with the UN which means our Federation holds both the privilege and the responsibility to speak to issues that impact the daily life of our members and the society we envision. Attending COSP gives us a platform to share our experiences, learn from others, and advocate for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities worldwide. Our participation helps amplify our voices and ensures they are heard on an international stage. Together, we can share our experiences, interests, and perspectives.
By participating with the UN we can build relationships with a diversity of people who hold many roles in our global community. We can learn from one another, and we can connect around mutual goals that make life better for everyone in the world we share. At the UN we meet and build partnerships to help bring forward a world where everyone belongs.