From: Department of Children, Disability and Equality
Minister joined by disability advocates to ensure lived experience remains central to Ireland’s voice at the UN
Minister of State for Disability, Hildegarde Naughton TD, today delivered Ireland’s National Statement at the 18th Conference of State Parties (COSP) to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) at UN Headquarters in New York.
As part of Ireland’s delegation, Minister Naughton is accompanied by representatives from several leading Irish disability organisations, ensuring that the voices of disabled people and their lived experiences remain central to Ireland’s participation at the international level. Organisations represented include the Independent Living Movement Ireland (ILMI), the National Platform of Self-Advocates, and the Disability Federation of Ireland—all integral members of Ireland’s DPO Network.
Speaking ahead of delivering Ireland’s national address, Minister Naughton stated:
“The Conference of State Parties provides an essential platform each year for Ireland to reaffirm its commitment to the UNCRPD and the fundamental human rights it upholds.
It is my firm belief that lived experience must guide effective policymaking—especially in the context of disability. That is why I am honoured to be in New York this week alongside representatives of Ireland’s disability community. Their perspectives bring critical insight, and their participation will strengthen global dialogue through the lens of real-life experience.
This is not just an opportunity to showcase Ireland’s leadership, but also to engage meaningfully with international partners and learn from one another.”
Minister Naughton also underscored the importance of inclusive representation in global forums:
“It is essential that disabled people and their representative organisations are at the heart of our engagement at the UN. When I deliver Ireland’s National Statement, I will speak directly to the importance of lived experience and reaffirm our commitment to the progressive realisation of the UNCRPD in Ireland.
I am also proud that Ireland will host a side event during the Conference, focusing on the role of disabled people and their representative organisations in co-designing Ireland’s forthcoming National Disability Strategy. Co-sponsored by New Zealand and Sierra Leone, this event reflects the true spirit of COSP—bringing together state actors and civil society to renew our shared commitment to building inclusive societies.”
This year’s Conference comes at a pivotal moment, ahead of the Second World Summit for Social Development in November 2025, a global initiative aimed at promoting inclusive development and advancing social well-being. Minister Naughton also highlighted Ireland’s recent endorsement of the Amman-Berlin Declaration at the Global Disability Summit, which calls for the full and effective engagement of persons with disabilities across all areas of development cooperation and humanitarian response.
Throughout the Conference, Minister Naughton will engage in bilateral meetings with her counterparts from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Sierra Leone, and New Zealand. These discussions will focus on shared challenges, innovation, and best practices in ensuring that the voices of disabled people are meaningfully embedded in decision-making processes and that policy outcomes are rights-based and inclusive.
The Conference of State Parties to the UNCRPD is an annual gathering of delegates from the 185 States Parties to the Convention, along with civil society organisations and international agencies. It serves as a key forum for reviewing progress, sharing challenges, and strengthening the global commitment to disability rights.
The 18th Conference takes place in New York from 10–12 June 2025. Ireland’s side event, focusing on inclusive policy co-design, will take place on Wednesday, 12 June, and will highlight how disabled people’s voices are shaping Ireland’s future National Disability Strategy.
