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WFDB Actively Shapes Global Dialogue at COSP19

A blue banner promoting the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP). On the left is the conference logo, featuring a stylised human figure inside a circular design made up of blue, green, yellow, orange, and red curved lines. On the right, white text reads "Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities." In the top right corner, smaller text states "United Nations Headquarters, New York." Below are the website www.un.org/disabilities and the hashtags #COSP, #SDGs, and #GlobalGoals. At the bottom right are the United Nations logo, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs logo, and the Sustainable Development Goals colour wheel.

Deafblind leadership, advocacy and youth voices contribute to the 20th anniversary of the UN CRPD

The World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) proudly participated in the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

As the international community marked the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), WFDB ensured that the voices and perspectives of persons with deafblindness were not only represented, but actively contributed to global discussions on disability rights, inclusion, accessibility, and leadership.

Two women stand side by side, smiling at the camera, inside a modern reception area at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. On the left is Dr. Sanja Tarczay, President of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) and First Vice-President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA). She is wearing a green blazer over a white outfit, a patterned scarf, and glasses. On the right is Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, wearing a long patterned dress with a matching grey headscarf. Behind them is a reception desk displaying the emblem of the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations, with small Finnish and United States flags and decorative Moomin figures. A woman stands in the background near the entrance. The photograph was taken during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19).
WFDB President Dr. Sanja Tarczay with United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed during COSP19.

High-level advocacy

WFDB President Dr. Sanja Tarczay, serving in her role as First Vice-President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), participated in high-level meetings, side events, and discussions throughout COSP19. Through her leadership within IDA, she contributed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities while ensuring that the perspectives of persons with deafblindness remained visible within international disability policy discussions.

A man with short light brown hair wearing a white short-sleeved shirt sits at a desk in the conference hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He is Riku Virtanen, Executive Board Member of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB). Beside him sits his deafblind interpreter, a woman wearing glasses and a floral-patterned blouse, who is reading from a smartphone while speaking into a desk microphone to deliver Riku's intervention. In front of them is a digital nameplate displaying "NGO". The large conference hall is filled with delegates seated at desks in the background during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19).
WFDB Executive Board Member Riku Virtanen Addresses the Civil Society Forum at COSP19.

Strengthening the visibility of the deafblind community

WFDB Executive Board Member Riku Virtanen also represented the deafblind community by delivering an intervention during the Civil Society Forum. His speech highlighted the importance of visibility, empowerment, and the meaningful participation of persons with deafblindness, reinforcing the principle that deafblind persons must be active participants in decisions that affect their lives.

A man and a woman stand side by side, smiling at the camera, in front of two blue United Nations Youth Office banners and a United Nations flag. On the right is Pere Cantenys Gómez, Chair of the WFDB Youth Committee, wearing glasses, a dark blue shirt, beige trousers, and holding a white mobility cane. On the left is a representative of the United Nations Youth Office, wearing a floral dress and a conference badge. The banners behind them display the United Nations emblem and the words "United Nations Youth Office" and "Working With and For Youth." The photograph was taken during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.I like this because it highlights why the photo matters: it documents a milestone for Deafblind Youth representation at the UN, rather than simply identifying the people in the image.
WFDB Youth Committee Chair Pere Cantenys Gómez Represents Deafblind Youth at the United Nations.

A milestone for Deafblind Youth

COSP19 also marked an important milestone for Deafblind Youth.

With the support of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and in collaboration with the United Nations Youth Office, WFDB Youth Committee Chair Pere Cantenys Gómez participated in the UN Youth programme for the first time, representing Deafblind Youth in an international forum for dialogue.

His participation highlighted the importance of including young persons with deafblindness in discussions on technology, accessibility, and inclusive policymaking. It also strengthened collaboration with IDA’s Youth Network and established an important foundation for future engagement of Deafblind Youth within the United Nations system.

Reflecting on the experience, Pere described the opportunity as an important first step towards empowering Deafblind Youth globally and ensuring their voices continue to be heard in international decision-making.

Four members of the World Federation of the Deafblind (WFDB) delegation stand side by side, smiling at the camera, in front of a United Nations flag and the United Nations emblem mounted on a wooden wall plaque. From left to right are Pere Cantenys Gómez, Chair of the WFDB Youth Committee from Spain; Riku Virtanen, WFDB Executive Board Member from Finland, holding a white cane; Dr. Sanja Tarczay, WFDB President and First Vice-President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) from Croatia; and Loran Xuereb, a deafblind advocate from Malta, holding a white cane. The photograph was taken during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
WFDB Delegation Represents the Global Deafblind Community at COSP19.

Building the future together

WFDB’s participation at COSP19 demonstrates the growing recognition of deafblind leadership at the international level. Through advocacy, dialogue, and meaningful participation, persons with deafblindness continue to help shape policies that affect their lives.

As we celebrate twenty years of the UN CRPD, WFDB remains committed to ensuring that persons with deafblindness are not only included in global conversations, but are recognised as leaders, experts by experience, and partners in building a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable future for all.

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