20 years of the UNCRPD

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), a landmark treaty that transformed how disability is understood and addressed worldwide. By recognising persons with disabilities as equal rights holders, the convention established accessibility, participation, and inclusion as fundamental human rights principles.

When the UNCRPD was adopted, smartphones were still in their infancy, social media had only begun to emerge, and many public services were not yet digital. Today, digital technologies shape nearly every aspect of our lives—from education, employment, healthcare, banking, and public services to social participation and democratic engagement. Access to the digital world has therefore become essential for exercising many of the rights protected by the convention.

For the EU, the convention is more than an international commitment. Since becoming a party to it in 2010, the EU has taken significant steps to turn the convention’s principles into practical reality. The Web Accessibility Directive established accessibility requirements for public sector websites and mobile applications and the European Accessibility Act has extended accessibility requirements to a wide range of products and services in the private sector.

The EU has also played a leading role in supporting accessibility through harmonised standards, procurement requirements, research programmes, and cooperation with organisations representing persons with disabilities. The next step is to move accessibility from a specialised topic to a mainstream consideration in digital policy and innovation.

Still, millions of people in the EU and across the globe still encounter inaccessible websites, mobile applications, self-service terminals, digital documents, and online services. Emerging technologies create new opportunities but also new risks if accessibility is not built in from the start.

Twenty years after the adoption of the convention, we have a log to celebrate. The challenge for the years ahead is to ensure that accessibility is built into every aspect of the digital society – so that no one is excluded.

The 19th session of the conference of states parties to the CRPD (COSP19) takes place in New York 9-11 June 2026. Many events during COSP are live streamed.

UN web TV live stream, opens in a new window

If you are interested in the European-focused events, the European Disability Forum (EDF) has put together a calendar.

List of events where you can listen to EDF, opens in a new window