EU Explanation of Votes – UN General Assembly: Rights of persons with disabilities
EU Explanation of Vote – UN General Assembly: Rights of persons with disabilities
20 November 2025, New York – European Union Explanation of Vote before the vote on the oral amendment at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly Action on A/C.3/80/L.44/Rev.1 - Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto: amplified barriers in diverse contexts
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* align themselves with this statement.
Colleagues, the theme for this year’s Resolution, on the Implementation on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is: Amplified barriers in diverse contexts.
As the title denotes, our negotiations to update the text –facilitated by New Zealand and Mexico – have therefore been concerned with examining the diverse contexts and situations in which persons with disabilities face amplified barriers to enjoying their rights.
The text we have before us is by no means comprehensive in listing these contexts and situations – however it comes very close to that. We further note the openness of the facilitators to new language suggestions as part of this process, to increase the scope of our understanding of all these contexts, whatever they may be.
Persons with disabilities face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. These hinder their access to education, healthcare, social protection, work and justice.
If this amendment passes, we would be ignoring one key determinant upon which persons with disabilities face discrimination, and diluting the full picture of the various grounds upon which people can be subject to stigmatisation and violence. It is important that the reality for these persons be taken into consideration.
For these reasons, EU Member States will vote NO to the amendment, and urge others to do so as well.
Thank you.
UNGA80 – Action on A/C.3/80/L.44/Rev.1
Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto: amplified barriers in diverse contexts
EU Explanation of Vote (before the vote on the Resolution)
20 November 2025
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
The Candidate Countries North Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* align themselves with this statement.
We would like to thank the co-facilitators, New Zealand and Mexico, for their work to steer our discussions on this Resolution again this year. We welcome the open and transparent manner in which negotiations were conducted, as well as the level of background and detail provided for all new textual updates, which greatly facilitated our discussions.
We regret that a vote has been called on this Resolution, which concerns implementation of one of the most widely ratified UN Conventions, globally.
We welcome the updates to the Resolution this year - not limited to - an important recognition of the work of the Global Disability Fund in implementing the CRPD; a call for UN80 to be more inclusive of persons with disabilities; an ask for the Secretary general to explore ways to put the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy on a more sustainable footing; as well as strong language calling for an end to all violence and discrimination against persons with disabilities – including sexual and gender based violence.
We welcome the fact that the updates to the Resolution this year have all been strongly aligned with this year’s theme: “amplified barriers in diverse contexts”, recognising the diversity of persons with disabilities.
For the aforementioned reasons [despite this removal], the EU will vote in favour of the text, and urges others to do likewise.
Thank you.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
*North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.