Statement by

Mr. Elvin Ashrafzade, Deputy Permanent Representative

of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations

at the General Debate of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties

 to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

on behalf of a cross regional group of countries

CR-4, UNHQ, 10 June 2026

Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of countries, namely Albania, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Türkiye, Vietnam and my country, Azerbaijan. The overarching theme of COSP19 – “CRPD at 20: celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world” – suggests a timely opportunity for State Parties to take stock of the realization of human rights for persons with disabilities under the Convention and to identify gaps and challenges.

We reaffirm the principles proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations, which recognize the inherent dignity and worth and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.

The World Health Organization’s factsheet on persons with disabilities indicates that around 15 per cent of the world’s population lives with disabilities, which necessitates enhanced and careful attention by the international community and State Parties in providing conducive conditions for their participation as equal members of society.

Mr. President,

While underlining the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant sustainable development strategies, we reaffirm our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is inclusive of persons with disabilities. We also recognize that the contributions of persons with disabilities are essential to the full and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, in line with the pledge to leave no one behind. 

In this regard, the Convention’s human-rights protections must be ensured for persons with disabilities in all circumstances, including those in conflict and post-conflict settings affected by mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Mr. President,

The Secretary-General’s latest report on assistance in mine action (A/80/272) underscored that millions of people in conflict and post-conflict settings continued to risk injury and death or suffer from limited access to basic services due to mines, ERW and IEDs. Moreover, the report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities (A/76/146) highlighted that conflicts increase the prevalence of disability within the population through newly acquired disabilities, with many of those individuals facing the same barriers and challenges as persons with existing disabilities, but without the previous lived experience.

We stress that international support needs to be accelerated to advance disability prevention in conflict and post-conflict settings, particularly in the establishment, development and effective functioning of national mine-action capacities. At the same time, building national capacities for emergency and continuing medical care, physical rehabilitation and prosthetics, psychological support and social rehabilitation, education and economic reintegration for all persons with disabilities, is of paramount importance to address the needs of persons with disabilities.

In conclusion, on this 20th anniversary of the Convention, we reiterate our strong commitment to this landmark treaty, which elaborates in detail the rights of persons with disabilities and sets out a code of implementation, and to take measures of prevention, habilitation and rehabilitation, and equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Thank you.