The Government of Canada is committed to breaking down barriers and building a fairer, more equitable and inclusive society where all individuals, including persons with disabilities, can participate fully and contribute to their communities.
Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, represented Canada this week at the 17th session of the United Nations Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in New York. The overall theme for this year's conference was "Rethinking disability inclusion in the current international juncture and ahead of the Summit of the Future."
Minister Khera reaffirmed Canada's ongoing commitment to the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in her address to the United Nations. The Minister noted the significant progress made in shaping a more inclusive Canada for everyone, including persons with disabilities. She emphasized the creation of a new Canada Disability Benefit, which will support the financial wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of working-age Canadians with disabilities. She also emphasized the ongoing efforts to provide equal access to job opportunities, supporting both career advancement for persons with disabilities and Canada's economic growth. Additionally, Minister Khera highlighted Canada's international commitments to support global efforts in building a disability inclusive world.
As part of the conference, Minister Khera, on behalf of the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced Canada's contribution of $5.9 million from 2024 to 2026 to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the implementation of a disability inclusion and care work project by the United Nations Partnership for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD). This initiative will help advance the rights of persons with disabilities in Colombia, Kenya, Mozambique, Panama and Tanzania, specifically by increasing independent living opportunities for persons with disabilities, especially women. It will also improve the well-being of unpaid caregivers providing support to family members with disabilities. This funding is part of Canada's $100 million commitment announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2021 to address the gender inequalities in unpaid and paid care work in low- and middle-income countries.
This year, three youth leaders joined Canada's official delegation in recognition of their proven leadership for persons with disabilities in their communities. By participating in the Conference, Isai Estey from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Nicole Flynn from Madoc, Ontario, and Eitel Houedakor from Montréal, Quebec, not only contributed their perspectives to discussions at the conference, but are also helping to build youth leadership within the disability community in Canada and beyond.
