Statement of the UN Resident Coordinator on the Passage of the Disability Services Bill
01 August 2025
Yesterday’s unanimous passage of the Disability Services Bill of 2025 by the National Parliament is a landmark achievement in Papua New Guinea’s journey toward greater inclusion, dignity, and human rights for all. On behalf of the United Nations system in PNG, I warmly congratulate the National Executive Council and the Department for Community Development and Religion, and the many organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) who have long championed this reform.
This new law affirms Papua New Guinea’s commitment to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the country ratified in 2013. It marks a transformative step toward ensuring that no one is left behind. The UN stands firmly behind the Government and persons with disabilities in supporting the Bill’s effective implementation.
In partnership with development partners and civil society, the UN will continue working closely with DFCDR and a technical working group to advance four key priorities in support of the bill’s implementation: (1) strengthening legal and policy frameworks anchored on human rights standards, (2) enhancing the institutional capacity of organizations of persons with disabilities, (3) upgrading service delivery, infrastructure, transport accessibility and labour mobility, especially for women and girls, and (4) boosting knowledge management, analytics and data on the situation of persons with disabilities.
Together, we move forward in solidarity and determination to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
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