The UN Partnership to Promote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

You are dependent on your husband, or your parents, or your uncle, or other people. They may show some kindness, but often it is coupled with scorn. They see you as a burden. They take their frustration and anger out on you. They do not send you to school, for they say it is not worth it. They use cruel names to speak of you. They do not feed you enough. They hit you. They may have their way with you.  

A joint UN programme is enabling decision-makers and civil society groups to advance the rights of people with disabilities in Guatemala.

Because of her illness, Nicole has suffered more than 100 bone fractures in her lifetime, but she has never given up. Nicole has long been an ally of the UN in the fight for inclusion and the rights of people with disabilities. Her story is now featured in a book published by the UN.

Leaders from different UN agencies, Member States, and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, came together on Tuesday 14 June in New York to discuss progress in the implementation of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS).  

Below, we highlight what UN teams across the world are doing to strengthen the fight against COVID-19 as of 10 July 2020.

Azerbaijan 

In Azerbaijan

Nearly 40 per cent of Namibia's population lives in informal settlements, with little or no access to infrastructure and basic services, including water, sanitation, and hygiene. The Resident Coordinator and her office are acting as connectors, bringing together the strengths and expertise of UN entities and partners to help serve these vulnerable communities in a cohesive way.

For the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the UN’s call to “Orange the World” comes with the rallying cry to “Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect” – bridge the funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence, focus on prevention and collect the data that we need to adapt and improve life-saving services for women and girls. This year we are handing over the mic to them. 

A new joint programme has been established in Costa Rica to provide tools to social co-managers for basic protection for families and women's economic autonomy in three cantons.

Last year, UN teams on the ground reached thousands of people and supported governments on a myriad of objectives. They boosted countries' COVID-19

Our UN teams are on the ground, working with governments and key stakeholders to bolster countries’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping ensure a smooth recovery. They tackle a range of multi-faceted priorities and key initiatives on a daily basis—from climate action to gender equality and food security—and utilize innovative approaches to problem-solving to better serve communities. Below are some highlights of their work this month.