More than 200 representatives from across the Commonwealth gathered to examine practical steps to advance Disability Rights for more than 450 million persons with disabilities across the 56 member countries.
The ‘Implementing Disability Rights Across the Commonwealth Symposium’ was hosted by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) in the capital city of St. John’s. View whole symposium
The symposium was opened by the Minister Gordon Turner of Antigua and Barbuda, the Minister of Social Transformation, said:
“People with disabilities speak about the barriers they face and we must listen. Their rights matter. Their experiences say what has to change. These barriers come from decisions we make as Government. This has to change”.
The symposium follows the adoption of the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Antigua and Barbuda 2 to 4 November 2026.
The DIAP provides a framework for advancing disability rights and strengthening the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) across the Commonwealth. Participants, including persons with disabilities, representatives of disabled peoples’ organisations (DPOs), government ministers and officials shared experiences, examined challenges and considered how the DIAP could support effective implementation of the UNCRPD at national and Commonwealth levels. Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan
They explored practical approaches to advance disability rights across a range of areas, including employment, healthcare, education, access to justice, politics, housing, transport, media and public services.
As of September 2026, all 56 Commonwealth member countries are party to the UNCRPD. The symposium focused on translating the UNCRPD commitments into meaningful action to support the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society.
Dr Richard Rieser, General Secretary of CDPF, said,
“We call for these barriers to be identified and removed, discrimination to be addressed, and the rights, dignity, autonomy and inclusion of persons with disabilities to be upheld. Governments have a critical responsibility to lead these efforts through legislation, policy reform, accessible services and
effective implementation.”
Justin Pettit, acting Head of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Human Rights Unit, said:
“For persons with disabilities, progress is not measured by promises on paper, but by what changes in their daily lives. It is whether they can exercise their right to go to school, find decent work, have a voice in decisions affecting them and participate fully in their communities. This Action Plan gives us a practical path to go from commitment to implementation. Our task now is to work with governments and organisations of persons with disabilities to dismantle the barriers, accelerate action and deliver the inclusion, opportunity and dignity everyone deserves’’.
Karen- Mae Hill, High Commissioner to London from Antigua, said “We need to accelerate partnership to achieve equality and prosperity for the 450 million disabled people in the Commonwealth in this 20th Anniversary of the UNCRPD being adopted at the United Nations”.
Following the symposium, member countries will work towards implementing the DIAP, with the support of the Commonwealth Secretariat and DPOs, to advance the full and equal enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities across the Commonwealth.
