On October 16 and 17, 2024, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) hosted an expert workshop in Geneva, Switzerland, focusing on the centrality of care and support through the lens of human rights standards. This workshop, based on the mandates of the Human Rights Council resolution 54/6, aimed to examine care and support by emphasizing principles of rights, dignity, autonomy, non-discrimination, and equality of opportunity.
The International Disability Alliance (IDA) actively participated in the workshop, with Rosario Galaraza, Intersectionalities and Cross-Movement Collaboration Senior Officer, presenting on the human rights standards for persons with disabilities as both caregivers and care recipients. She acknowledged the rich diversity of perspectives shared throughout the workshop. "It was a great platform to exchange views across different identities, such as persons with disabilities, gender perspectives, and insights from organizations of older people and children’s rights organizations," Rosario noted.
The discussions at the workshop highlighted the importance of addressing care and support through an intersectional lens, taking into account the overlapping identities that shape individual experiences.
Throughout the event, Rosario actively engaged in discussions on the background paper prepared by the OHCHR. Rosario emphasized the significance of the collaborative process led by the OHCHR: "I would like to emphasize the value of this collaborative process, which ensured that diverse voices were heard, and that the final output would be robust and reflective of the varying needs of care providers and recipients of support, particularly from a rights-based perspective." This inclusive approach was crucial in developing a comprehensive and responsive outcome that addresses the unique needs of care providers and recipients, placing human rights at the core of care and support systems.