On Thursday, 12 June 2025, from 1:15 to 2:30 pm EST, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, in partnership with the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), hosted a significant side event at the 18th Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CoSP18). The event took place in Conference Room 4 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The side event focused on the formal recognition of June 27th as the International Day of Deafblindness, a milestone that marks a critical step toward raising global awareness and advancing the rights of people who are deafblind. The event was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
A Collaborative Effort
The event brought together key stakeholders from governments, international organizations, and the deafblind community, both in person and online. The diverse panel shared insights into the journey toward the resolution and discussed practical approaches to supporting deafblind individuals worldwide.
Event Programme Highlights
The session began with welcome remarks from Mr. Hrvoje Ćurić Hrvatinić, Deputy Permanent Representative of Croatia to the UN and Chargé d’affaires a.i., and Mr. Christopher Woodfill, Executive Committee member of WFDB and session moderator.
Ms. Marija Pletikosa, State Secretary at Croatia’s Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, outlined how the resolution came to be and shared Croatia’s experiences in supporting deafblind people.
Mr. Jarrod Clyne, Deputy Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance, delivered an intervention highlighting the importance of this recognition within the global disability rights framework.
Ms. Heba Hagrass, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, contributed remarks underscoring the human rights implications of the resolution.
The World Federation of the Deafblind was represented by President Sanja Tarczay, who presented via video, and Mr. Riku Virtanen, Executive Committee member, who shared perspectives on the global impact of this milestone.
Co-sponsors Tanzania and Jordan also participated by providing insights on national commitments and regional engagement.
Gratitude and Forward Momentum
Organizers expressed their sincere thanks to all attendees—both in-person and online—for their contributions to this historic occasion. The recognition of June 27th as the International Day of Deafblindness represents a collective commitment to visibility, inclusion, and rights for the deafblind community worldwide.
