Nordic-Baltic Intervention by H.E. Ambassador Terhi Hakala, Finland
Madame Chair,
Distinguished panelists,
I have the honor of making this intervention on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and my own country Finland.
I would like to thank all panelists for their insightful interventions.
Persons with disabilities often face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, usually on the grounds of, inter alia, age, disability, ethnic, indigenous, national or social origin, sexual orientation or gender identity or any other status.
We all should do our utmost to eradicate discrimination for current and future generations of persons with disabilities. Additional efforts are required from all of us.
The Nordic-Baltic countries fully agree that all awareness-raising strategies should include the perspective of persons with disabilities and the different forms of discrimination they face. . Persons with disabilities are diverse and come - as everyone else – from different backgrounds and life circumstances. We should always pay particular attention to the situation and needs of women and girls with disabilities.
In order to reach tangible results, governments must work closely with all relevant stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, and their representative organizations, other civil society organizations businesses and media platforms. Only by working together can we ensure that all actions are in line with the CRPD and other human rights instruments. Providing human rights information and education - to all age groups - remains an important goal to achieve this.
A question: What good examples could the panelists provide as regards positive and creative use of on-line platforms in relation to awareness raising of the rights and situation of persons with disabilities in various parts of the world?