GBDN members participate in UN’s annual disability conference

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Since 2008, the Conference of States Parties (COSP) to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by 177 countries, takes place every year. This year, two ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN) members, BNP Paribas and Disabled People’s Organisations Denmark (DPOD), presented at conference side events their approaches to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector.

Representatives of DPOD, the Danish Ministry of Children and Social Affairs, African Disability Forum and ILOAnnually, the COSP to the CRPD provides a unique opportunity for a wide range of actors to learn from each other and discuss issues related to the inclusion of people with disabilities, including representatives of private companies and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs). This year’s COSP which took place from 12 to 14 June 2018 at the UN headquarters in New York, featured two side events in which members of the GBDN showcased ways forward to make work environments more inclusive of persons with disabilities.

On 12 June, the side event “Private sector employment of persons with disabilities and labour market statistics on persons with disabilities”, organised by GBDN member DPOD and the Danish Ministry of Children and Social Affairs, highlighted the benefits of diverse workforces in which workers with disabilities are enabled to contribute to companies’ success, including through accessibility measures and the provision of reasonable accommodation in the workplace.Representative of BNP Paribas presenting at side event

On 14 June, the side event “A tripartite experience of promoting decent work for people with disabilities”, organised by the ILO and the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN, featured GBDN member BNP Paribas as a company committed to including persons with disabilities, also by seeking an exchange with representative organisations of persons with disabilities.

The leadership of the private sector in advancing employment opportunities of persons with disabilities was recognised by all participants of the side events.