INTERVENTO INTRODUTTIVO PRONUNCIATO DAL VICE RAPPRESENTANTE PERMANENTE ED INCARICATO D’AFFARI, A.I. DELL’ITALIA PRESSO LE NAZIONI UNITE, AMBASCIATORE INIGO LAMBERTINI, AL SIDE EVENT DELLA  8A CONFERENZA DEGLI STATI PARTE ALLA CONVENZIONE SUI DIRITTI DELLE PERSONE CON DISABILITA’ (CRPD) SU “OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY” (10 giugno 2015)

Excellencies, Distinguished colleagues,

I thank Mr. Facundo Chavez Penillas for his interesting remarks and for his valuable contribution here today as one of the authors of the December 2014 report on Independent Living published by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Of course, I join in welcoming you all to this side event on “Overcoming Barriers to Live Independently in the Community” that Italy has organized together with OHCHR and with the co-sponsorship of Austria, Brazil, Egypt, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, the International Disability Alliance and Disabled People’s International. I thank you all for your support.

Article 19 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities sets out the right of all disabled persons to “live in the community with choices equal to others”, requiring States to assure that disabled persons are fully included and can participate in society.

Non-discrimination and accessibility are essential to assuring that community services and facilities for the general population are available on an equal basis to persons with disabilities and respond to their needs. In this context, we should also consider the most vulnerable groups of the wider population of persons with disabilities, such as women and children.

In order to guarantee that these freedoms are achieved, a change of approach is necessary: still today, persons with disabilities are presumed to be unable to make decisions for themselves, thus, begetting the notion that society needs to protect them. This approach has deprived persons with disabilities of the opportunity to determine their own future.

In fact, one of the key aspects for an inclusive society is the autonomy and independence of persons with disabilities, including the freedom of making their own choices.

It is therefore not a coincidence that, for Italy, the issue of independent living is one of the most crucial, hinging on the implementation of the CRPD. It is considered a priority of Italy’s Biannual Action Plan, covering policies, services and organizational models for independent living and inclusion in society for persons with disabilities. Since some years now, Italy is seriously engaged in this challenge. This is why we are keen to discuss, share national practices and exchange experiences.


Dear colleagues,

I am sure that this side event, with the contributions of experts from different parts of the world, will help us to advance in this important agenda, in order to improve the life of persons with disabilities and ensure their full, deserved, inclusion into our societies.

Thank you.