Global Compact Champions the Role of Business in Supporting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

(12 September 2012, New York) – Marking the Fifth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Global Compact today highlighted actions that companies are taking to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in the workplace, marketplace and community. During a roundtable discussion on Access and Technology the Global Compact also offered to provide greater guidance to companies and support the scaling up of their activities to support persons with disabilities.

The private sector is highly impactful on the rights of persons with disabilities. Businesses can ensure economic independence through equitable employment. Innovative technologies can also support greater access and engagement of persons with disabilities within their communities. Many companies already engage in activities that provide greater accessibility to persons with disabilities, such as ensuring widespread availability of products and services in developed and developing markets; participating in initiatives that increase recruitment and retention of employees with disabilities; establishing in-house disability forums; and ensuring that supplier diversity programmes include firms run by persons with disabilities.

The Global Compact has taken a number of steps to promote businesses’ respect and support for the rights of persons with disabilities:

• The Global Compact and the International Labour Organization (ILO) co-hosted a webinar on the topic of Disability in the Workplace.
• Through its communications channels, the Global Compact promotes guidance material featuring best practices of companies involving persons with disabilities and a guidebook outlining corporate strategies to manage disability-related issues in the workplace.

Looking ahead, the Global Compact will develop specific tools and resources for companies to advance the rights of persons with disabilities, including corporate case studies and/or a business guidebook. Additionally, the Global Compact will work closely with existing initiatives that advance business action to support persons with disabilities, such as the ILO Global Business and Disability Network.

The Global Compact also encourages companies to engage in public-private partnerships to support UN goals, including to respect the rights of persons with disabilities by collaborating with other stakeholders to support and scale up accessible technologies.

• Fifth Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Learn more about the Human Rights and Labour Principles of the Global Compact.

Contact

Sean Cruse
UN Global Compact
cruse@un.org