Zhang Haidi calls for intl cooperation to promote the rights of people with disabilities

By Wang Yanfang

Intro: Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), was invited to participate in the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming at the 55th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva from Feb. 26-27, 2024.

Zhang Haidi, president of Rehabilitation International (RI) and former chairperson of China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), was invited to participate in the annual high-level panel discussion on human rights mainstreaming at the 55th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva from Feb. 26-27, 2024.

During her trip, she presented what accomplishments China’s disability cause has achieved to officers of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and their team that focuses on disability affairs.

Zhang called for the establishment of the World Disability Organization under the U.N. framework in order to better coordinate international exchange and cooperation in the field of disabilities affairs. The formation of an international organization would promote and protect the rights and interests of global citizens with disabilities.

The officers of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights appreciate and support the establishment of the World Disability Organization and are expected to cooperate with China in its creation.

During Zhang’s trip, she also exchanged views with Mexico’s and New Zealand’s permanent representatives to the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights that focus on the rights of women with disabilities, inclusive education for children with disabilities and the development of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

She also met with officers of the U.N. library in Geneva to discuss how the library’s facilities can become modernized and more accessible for people with disabilities.

Zhang was invited by representatives from the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion of East Timor to recount her experience of establishing a disability organization and relevant working mechanisms. As they are expected to set up a national organization focused solely on disability affairs, the purpose of their invitation was to learn from Zhang’s insights.

While in Switzerland, Zhang also exchanged views with Chen Xu, permanent representative of China to the U.N. office in Geneva, and other international organizations’ Chinese representatives on how to boost China’s contributions to the international human rights cause.