Thank you Madame Chair and thanks to the organizers of this meeting,
Italy reiterates its commitment to protecting the rights, safety and dignity of persons with disabilities, especially in the context of armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.
At every stage of humanitarian support action, from planning to execution, relief, access to health services, adequate shelter, continuity of care, aids and rehabilitation, psychological support and information accessible to all must be guaranteed even in times of crisis and emergency.
The full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2475 (2019) is the cornerstone of our approach.
Italy stands ready to work with all partners to ensure that humanitarian action reflects the values of humanity, impartiality and inclusion.
We firmly believe that the value of human life is the greatest principle to pursue and that the protection of every person strengthens the resilience and dignity of entire communities affected by armed conflicts.
During the first G7 ministerial meeting on inclusion and disability held in Italy in October, the Ministers signed a document, the Solfagnano Charter, in which the G7 members recognized the importance of ensuring the consideration and involvement of people with disabilities in every phase of the design and implementation of prevention devices, emergency response and recovery activities, by developing shared plans and strategies in order to guarantee action protocols that allow all citizens to know the risks, prevent them and organize themselves in the event of danger or serious emergency.
It is essential to train staff and volunteers and to develop and implement protocols and early warning systems that are accessible to all people with physical, sensorial, intellectual and relational disabilities.
On the occasion of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in October, Italy presented an open pledge aimed at enhancing the protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities in situations of risks, including armed conflicts and disasters. We would welcome a wide support by the international community to this pledge.
We must continue in this direction and work in synergy for the dignity of every person’s life in our Countries.
Thank you.
