Secretary-General Stresses ‘Disability Is Not Inability’ in Video Message for Event Marking Anniversary of States Parties to Convention

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the Republic of Korea concert celebrating the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in New York today:

Ambassador Oh Joon of the Republic of Korea and President of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities — also known as CRPD,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Thank you for coming together for this concert on the occasion of the ninth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the CRPD.

I want to thank tonight’s performers from the Beautiful Mind Charity, 4WheelCity and the Samulnori team.

Through the power of music and the arts, these talented women and men are living examples of our core message:  disability is not inability.

Persons with disabilities are critical, invaluable partners and agents of change — as recognized and reinforced in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Let us work together for a world of opportunity and dignity for all, a future of inclusion, one in which we all gain by leaving no one behind.

Once again, my thanks to the performers for their example and inspiration.  Best wishes for an enjoyable evening.