Mr. Chair,

1. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on the Agenda item 144: Enhancing accessibility for persons with disabilities to conferences and meetings of the United Nations System for the second part of the resumed 76th session of the Fifth Committee.

2. The Group would like to thank the Representatives of Human Resources, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Joint Inspection Unit, and Office of the Internal Oversight Services.

Mr. Chair,

3. The Group strives to realize the United Nations where persons with disabilities are empowered and provided equal opportunities to contribute to all processes and decisions of the organization. In this regard, the Group welcomes the Secretariat’s effort to formulize United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) in April 2019. The Group would ensure its constructive engagement to review the implementation of this system-wide policy.

4. The implementation of UNDIS by Executive Office of the Secretary General’s disability team of the secretariat throughout the system is expected to provide foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the United Nations’ work. However, it is unfortunate that the Secretariat is still unable to implement a number of JIU recommendations in its operations, including developing and presenting a draft policy on the accessibility of conferences and meetings for persons with disabilities, as well as guidelines for policy implementation.

5. The Group acknowledges the efforts made by the Secretariat to report on the status of the implementation of UNDIS; and elaboration of progress in enhancing accessibility at numbers of United Nations System Organizations. However, in order for the disability inclusion strategy to be properly manifested, all policy instruments, including standard operating procedures by UN executive heads needs to be implemented as soon possible.

Mr. Chair,

6. The Group sees the importance of the comprehensiveness of the status report of the implementation. Therefore, we suggest that the report shall elaborate on the progress achieved across all UN systems.
7. While recognizing the progress made by Secretariat and Executive Heads to provide more access in ICT and virtual meetings for delegates with disability in many United Nation’s offices, the group attaches great importance to ensure implementation of a number of JIU recommendations by the executive heads of United Nations system organizations, including: (a) Issuing necessary instructions to the Office of information and communications technology; (b) facilitating management offices to undertake periodic accessibility assessments of organizational facilities and services for conferences and meetings; and (c) ensuring that organizations of persons with disabilities are adequately consulted at all stages of the process.

Mr. Chair,

8. On behalf of the Group of 77 & China, we reiterate the Group’s strong support towards an effective, accountable, and inclusive strategy in enhancing accessibility for persons with disabilities to conferences and meetings of the United Nations system.

9. We remain ready to engage constructively will all partners to conclude these agenda items in a timely manner.

I thank you Mr. Chair.