PWDA COSP18 Wrap-Up: Disability Rights on the Global Stage

15 June 2025

PWDA wrapped up a powerful week at the 18th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18) in New York. The global gathering brought together governments, Disabled People’s Organisations and advocates to drive forward the rights of people with disability.

PWDA was proud to contribute to key discussions and share perspectives rooted in lived experience – from AI and inclusive governance, to ending restrictive practices and resisting anti-diversity narratives.

Highlights from COSP18

Lived experience at the centre: PWDA speakers emphasised the need for disability leadership and co-design in shaping inclusive policies – both nationally and globally.
Ending restrictive practices: A key side event focused on the rights of First Nations people with disability, calling for culturally safe, community-led solutions.
Tackling exclusion in tech: In a panel on AI and cognitive disability, we called for inclusive governance to ensure technology works for everyone.
Speaking up at the UN: PWDA delivered a strong statement in the General Debate, highlighting the need to resist anti-diversity rhetoric and invest in rights-based approaches.
Final day spotlight on Indigenous leadership: On Day 4, Tahlia-Rose Vanissum shared her lived experience in a roundtable on Indigenous people with disability. Key calls included the recognition of Indigenous legal systems, eliminating substitute decision-making, and ensuring inclusive responses to climate change.
Global dialogue: The conference wrapped with a high-level dialogue between States Parties, the UN and civil society – reaffirming the shared commitment to advancing disability rights worldwide.
Regional connections: We were proud to stand alongside DPOs from across the Pacific, building relationships and sharing strategies for inclusive change.

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