Azerbaijan delivered a joint statement on behalf of a cross-regional group of 19 states during the general debate of the 19th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

Axar.az reports that the statement was published by Azerbaijan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations on its official X account.

The joint statement was delivered on behalf of Albania, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkiye, Vietnam, and Azerbaijan.

The statement underscored that around 15% of the world’s population lives with disabilities and highlighted the importance of ensuring that the CRPD guarantees the protection of human rights of persons with disabilities in all circumstances, including in conflict and post-conflict settings affected by landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

The participating states called for accelerated international support to advance disability prevention in conflict and post-conflict settings, particularly through the establishment, development, and effective functioning of national mine action capacities.

They also emphasized the need to strengthen national capacities for emergency and long-term medical care, physical rehabilitation and prosthetic services, education, and economic reintegration for all persons with disabilities.