The Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations in Geneva presented a side event on the “promotion of alternative quality assistance for children with disabilities” as part of the 40th Session of the Human Rights Council and following up on the annual meeting on the Rights of the Child. The side event was organised in association with ATD Quarto Mondo, International Social Service and a number of other NGOs, and was co-sponsored by UNICEF, the European Union Delegation and the Permanent Mission of Uruguay. The Panel was opened by the Permanent Representative of Italy, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, who said that children with disabilities have the same rights as other children and even though they have to face serious risks and challenges, there are considerable opportunities to support them and ensure that their rights are respected. Speakers from Italy, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Rwanda, Cambodia and Jamaica then presented the best practices from each region. The discussion was moderated by Mr Alfredo Ferrante, in representation of the Department for family policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, who noted how one example of Italy’s commitment towards issues regarding the protection of childhood and the promotion of the rights of minors with disabilities was the recent appointment of a Minister for Families and Disabilities, who holds significant national coordination functions on these matters. Italian best practices were then presented on the measures taken to support families with disabled children, also with a view to preventing unnecessary separations.