President,

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

In April this year, the world met at the Global Disability Summit in Berlin.

The Summit was held in a world in which the rules-based international order is being shaken to the core. The consensus that all human beings have the same inalienable rights - whether they have a disability or not and regardless of their gender, nationality, social background, religion or sexual orientation - is increasingly being challenged.

The Amman-Berlin Declaration adopted at the summit set the goal of “15% for the 15%”. This is the first concrete target for inclusive international development cooperation. It was embraced by around 100 countries and organisations.

Achieving this goal by 2028 requires teamwork and this joint effort has already begun in many countries. Germany will support it to the best of its ability.

Another important summit is due to take place this year: the “Second World Social Summit for Social Development” in Doha. Germany will also use this summit to advocate for a strong and responsible international community and to promote as well as demand rights for people with disabilities.

For us, one thing is certain: There is absolutely no question about the human rights-based approach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in and for Germany.

Germany's new government has also made this a key goal.

In fact, improving accessibility is a top priority on its agenda, and we will implement legislation in the following months. Our objective is to establish a right to reasonable accommodations in the private sector and to ensure that all public buildings at federal level are accessible by 2035.

Moreover, Germany aims to make the general labour market more inclusive. The reform of sheltered workshops for persons with disabilities continues to be one of our priorities. We are currently working on this intensively together with organisations of persons with disabilities.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Germany is committed to the UN CRPD and we look forward to continue our work in a multilateral framework together with all of you.

Thank you.