After
signing a Co-operation Agreement, the two organisations will collaborate on a
range of initiatives to drive disability inclusion.
To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Office of the UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) have signed a landmark
Co-operation Agreement to collaborate on several initiatives that will further
the rights of persons with disabilities.
As part of an agreement signed by IPC President Andrew Parsons and UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the two organisations will
work together with several other like-minded organisations to deliver a global
communications campaign around next year’s Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games that
aims to change global attitudes towards disability and further the human rights
agenda.
The IPC and UN Human Rights will also explore possibilities for closer
co-operation with regards to strategy and policy development, research, communication
and the promotion of persons of disabilities. This includes exploring how
UN Human Rights can contribute towards the IPC Inclusion Summit that will be
held during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “With the Paralympics firmly established
as the world’s third biggest sport event, we want Tokyo 2020 to be more than
just a showcase of spectacular sport, but a platform to advance the human
rights agenda for persons with disabilities.
“With a cumulative TV audience of around 4.25 billion in more than 150
countries set to watch next year’s Paralympics, we want to use Para sport and
the growing voice and profiles of Para athletes to help change global attitudes
towards the world’s one billion persons with disabilities and create greater
opportunities for this planet’s largest marginalised community.
“By partnering with UN Human Rights and several like-minded organisations we
want to place disability at the heart of the diversity and inclusion
agenda. We want to challenge the stigma attached to disability and
empower social transformation. This can only be achieved by highlighting
the challenges persons with disabilities face on a daily basis and by
empowering them to claim their human rights.
“The Paralympics really have shown that change starts with sport, and we hope
to use future editions of the Games, not just to Tokyo 2020, to empower social
transformation and make for a more inclusive society for all.”
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “Building a
robust civic space is one of my main concerns. The partnership with the
International Paralympic Committee not only expands UN Human Rights outreach to
a larger community of persons with disabilities, it opens the door to a
strengthen impact of both of our organisations, I look forward to our
collaboration.”
As part of the IPC’s push to use Para sport to advance the human rights agenda
for persons with disabilities, the organisation has also signed Co-operation
Agreements with the International Disability Alliance and The Valuable 500,
with more partnerships set to be announced in the coming months.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the
leading UN entity on human rights. It represents the world’s commitment
to the promotion and protection of the full range of human rights and freedoms
set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Founded in 1989, the IPC is the global governing body of the Paralympic
Movement. Its vision is to make for a more inclusive world through Para sport,
while its mission is to lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of
the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve
sporting excellence.
About the
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of
the Paralympic Movement. Its vision is to make for an inclusive society through
Para sport. Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international
non-profit organisation with more than 200 members made up of National
Paralympic Committees, International Federations, Regional Organisations and
International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled.
The IPC Headquarters and its management team are located in Bonn, Germany.
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