Funding of $300,000 to support people with disability attend international human rights forums

The Australian Government has announced it will provide $100,000 per year over three years to 2020-2021, to support people with disability and their representatives to attend key international human rights forums.
 

Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher said the funding would be used to assist people with disability and their representatives to attend meetings such as the United Nation’s annual Conference of States Parties (COSP) in New York, USA.
 

“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring people with disability play a key role in international discussions on disability issues.
 

“A portion of this funding will also be used to send a youth delegation to the COSP meeting,” Mr Fletcher said.
 

“The youth delegation will provide a younger perspective to the COSP, as well as being an educational experience for the group. A youth delegation received great feedback from its attendance in 2014 and we hope to achieve the same outcome this year.”
 

Assistant Minister for Social Services, Housing and Disability Services, Sarah Henderson said the Australian Government values the importance of people with disability being able to participate in society on an equal basis.
 

“This funding enables people with disability to contribute to important discussions about disability on an international stage.
 
“Australia is recognised internationally for its high level of engagement with and inclusion of people with disability and their representatives,” Ms Henderson said.
 

The Australian Human Rights Commission will assist in the administration of the funding.