The 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (#COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), is taking place from 9–11 June 2026 at UN Headquarters in New York under the theme: CRPD at 20 - Celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world.
Roundtable 3: From participation to representation: enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life. ** The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted by the UN General Assembly by its resolution 61/106 of 13 December 2006. It came into force on 3 May 2008 upon its 20th ratification. The CRPD is a legally-binding agreement between Member States who have signed the Convention to uphold, promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities as defined in the treaty. Article 40 of the CRPD stipulates that States Parties (signatories to the Convention) shall meet regularly in a Conference of States Parties (COSP) to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the Convention. Since 2008, the COSP has been held annually at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, covering a range of themes and issues in round-tables, interactive dialogues and side-events.
