Chinese and Foreign Experts Jointly Discuss Disability Organization Empowerment and Disability Rights Development

On March 16, a side event of the 49th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council themed "Disability Organization Empowerment and Disability Rights Development" was held both online and offline. The conference was hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, and jointly organized by the Institute of Human Rights of Wuhan University, the Academy of International Law and Global Governance of Wuhan University and other institutions. A number of experts discussed topics such as the empowerment of disabled persons' organization and the protection and development of the rights of disabled people. More than 120 people participated in the meeting.

Zhang Wanhong, Dean of the Institute of Human Rights of Wuhan University, said that the Chinese government has introduced a series of policies and measures to protect the rights of the disabled, and the social awareness of caring and helping the disabled has become stronger, and the development of the cause of the disabled has entered a fast lane. The sense of gain, happiness, security of the disabled person have continued to improve, and the overall development level of the disability cause has reached a new height.

Andrew Burns, a Professor at the University of New South Wales School of Law in Australia, called on researchers and rights advocates in the field of disability and aging to strengthen exchanges and cooperation to promote the development of a more comprehensive human rights framework. Pasi Frawley, an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Waikato, New Zealand, said that in order to ensure the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is necessary to conduct surveys and pay visits to learn more about the needs of the disabled, and form research reports and policy recommendations. It is good for the disabled to participate in the whole process. Xin Wanhua, Senior Consultant of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, shared two cases of empowerment for the disabled from southern India and Malaysia, pointing out the importance of raising awareness and empowering the disabled.

Experts at the meeting believed that it is important for experts from all over the world to exchange experience and inspire each other on the empowerment strategies of disabled organizations, which will definitely make greater contributions to highlighting the common valuesof mankind, advocating equal rights for disabled people, and promoting the unity and development of people around the world.