Image showing the attendees of a high-level seminar on people with disabilities which was held at the 55th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2024. [CDPF]

Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), delivered a speech at a high-level seminar on people with disabilities at the 55th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2024.

Zhang spoke about her work as RI's president and CDPF's chairperson and what the organizations have been doing for the past few years. During her speech, Zhang noted that "nothing about us without us" is transforming into "everything about us with us."

Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), delivers a speech at a high-level seminar on people with disabilities at the 55th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2024. [CDPF]

With a focus on full and effective participation and inclusion within society, the seminar was dedicated to discussion on cultivating multilateral efforts to protect, amplify and realize the rights of people with disabilities. 

Zhang said that people with disabilities encounter many barriers and difficulties. "The CDPF represents and serves the 85 million people with disabilities to make sure their voices are heard; their human rights are respected and equal opportunities to enjoy social and economic progress are guaranteed," she added, "nowadays, the protection of their rights and interests has been included in more than 90 laws."

At the seminar, Zhang spoke about China's welfare system that aims to provide a living allowance for people with disabilities who live in poverty and nursing subsidies for individuals with severe impairments. 27 million recipients have received financial support each month since this system's establishment in 2016. Seven million impoverished Chinese citizens with disabilities were lifted out of poverty in 2020.

Zhang noted that quite a number of Beautiful Crafts Workshops have been built, employing 10,000 women with disabilities. Beautiful Crafts Workshops are handicraft studios that regularly employ individuals with disabilities. Zhang believes that only through equal participation in society can dignified life be ensured. 

Aiming to ensure every person with disabilities can enjoy rehabilitation services, the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has been established. According to Zhang, jointly trained PhD students have begun graduating from the university. 

2026 will mark the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the U.N.'s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and, with this anniversary only a few years away, all included parties should commit more efforts in advancing the sustainable development of the international disability cause, said Zhang. 

With over one billion people with disabilities globally, Zhang hopes to further improve coordination among governments and international organizations, calling for the establishment of the World Disability Organization under the U.N. framework in order to better implement the U.N.'s CRPD and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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