58th Session of the Human Rights Council: Statement by Group of Friends of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Thank you, Mr President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of New Zealand and Mexico, as co-chairs of the Group of Friends of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

We thank the panellists for their contributions to this important discussion. 

We recognise the importance of accessible, affordable, and high-quality digital and assistive technologies as fundamental elements of disability-inclusive, human rights-based care and support systems. These technologies carry both benefits and risks for communities of persons with disabilities. 

Identified benefits include the use of technologies to improve access to important elements of social life, such as schooling. However, we recognise that digital technologies, particularly the use of AI, have the potential to reduce access in areas such as employment if they are not developed with fair and ethical participation in mind.

Digital inclusion of persons with disabilities is critical for ensuring participation, accountability, and non-discrimination. Digital inclusion also enhances agency and empowerment in online spaces, contributing to safer digital environments that help counter cyberbullying. 

To this end, we recognise the importance of adopting a human rights-based approach to digital and assistive technologies, including AI. This requires anchoring the development, use, and regulation of digital technologies in the international human rights framework to prevent the exclusion of groups in marginalised situations. 

We ask the panellists: how can we best ensure that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations are included in the development of new technologies, including e-governance systems?

Thank you, Mr President