Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek is participating in the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19), taking place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 9 to 11 June 2026. This year's session marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention and is being held under the theme “CRPD at 20: Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world.”

COSP19 is an important international forum for reviewing the achievements of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and reflecting on the next steps in its implementation in a changing world. This year's discussions focus on preventing exploitation, violence and abuse, strengthening care and support systems for independent living and community inclusion, and improving accessible civic participation, leadership and political representation of persons with disabilities.

“Over the past two decades, the Convention has fundamentally changed the understanding of disability and persons with disabilities”

As part of COSP19, Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr Simona Drenik Bavdek addressed the session on behalf of the Ombudsman and the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI). She stressed that the Convention has fundamentally changed the understanding of disability and persons with disabilities over the past two decades by shifting the focus from a medical and social welfare issue to one of human rights, equality and dignity. At the same time, she noted that persons with disabilities continue to face numerous barriers in exercising their rights and that the gap between legal commitments and everyday reality remains a serious challenge.

Independent Monitoring as an Essential Safeguard for Accountability

The Ombudswoman particularly highlighted the key role of national human rights institutions and independent monitoring mechanisms established under Article 33(2) of the Convention. Through monitoring, recommendations and cooperation with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, these mechanisms help identify systemic shortcomings, strengthen accountability and promote reforms. In her words, independent monitoring of the implementation of the Convention is not merely a formal requirement but an essential safeguard for accountability and the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The Importance of Article 19: Independent Living and Inclusion in the Community

The Ombudswoman also emphasized the importance of Article 19 of the Convention, which concerns independent living and inclusion in the community. She pointed out that many persons with disabilities are still unable to fully exercise these rights, making the discussion on support systems particularly relevant and necessary.

The proceedings of COSP19 can be followed live via UN Web TV, while the detailed programme and documentation are available on the website of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA): https://social.desa.un.org/cosp/19th-session and on the Indico UN platform: https://indico.un.org/event/1022601/.

The Slovenian Ombudsman Also Organizes a Side Event on Deinstitutionalization at the United Nations

As the lead partner, the Slovenian Human Rights Ombudsman is organizing a side event during the session in cooperation with the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, the German Institute for Human Rights and the institution of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. The event will also feature a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a representative of the European Disability Forum and the European Network on Independent Living, as well as a representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The side event, organized also in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations, represents an important opportunity to discuss deinstitutionalization as a fundamental element of implementing the rights of persons with disabilities. Entitled “Deinstitutionalization under the CRPD: Perspectives and Practice”, the event will take place on 10 June 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (EDT) in Conference Room 12 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event can also be followed via live stream at https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1w/k1wa54exer (4:00 p.m.–5:15 p.m. CEST).