“Italy is committed to ensuring protection and promotion of human rights, respect for life, and equality of rights for every individual. Human rights are universal, indivisible and fundamental to achieving peace and security, justice, and sustainable development. Italy has long been an active member of the Human Rights Council. We deeply believe that the Council plays a crucial role, just as we are convinced that our strong ability to cooperate, engage in dialogue, and take concrete action can significantly contribute to its activities”. These were the words spoken by Italian Minister for Disabilities, Alessandra Locatelli, intervening in Geneva at the high-level meeting of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council.
“For this reason, we have submitted Italy’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term,” stated the Minister, adding that “this candidacy aims to build bridges and promote dialogue among different nations. We believe that only by working together within the United Nations framework can we build a future where human rights are not just principles written in treaties but a reality experienced by all people.”
At the end of her speech, Minister Locatelli inaugurated the exhibition ‘The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Through the Eyes of Young People’, based on the comic book ‘L’importante è vincere…Insieme’ (What Matters Is Winning… Together), created in collaboration with Scuola Umbra di Amministrazione Pubblica. The twenty comic strips had already been displayed at the Solfagnano Castle during the first G7 on Inclusion and Disability and at the Delegates Entrance of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Among the many attendees were: Fabio Ciciliano, Head of the Italian Civil Protection Department; Rosario Valastro, President of the Italian Red Cross; and Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
During the inauguration, the Minister recalled that one of the eight priorities outlined in the Solfagnano Charter—the final document of the G7 on Inclusion and Disability—is the protection and safeguarding of persons with disabilities in times of conflict and humanitarian crises: “Targeted and specific protocols are needed,” stated the Minister, adding that “The Italian Government and the Italian Red Cross announced a pledge during the 34th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent last October to strengthen the protection and inclusion of persons with disabilities during conflicts and disasters. We therefore invite all interested parties—including states, national societies, and civil society organisations—to support this commitment and collaborate on its implementation. Only by working together can we do more and better, ensuring concrete and coordinated action to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities.”
