Director-General's remarks for the "Solfagnano Charter on Inclusion and Disability” exhibition

“The Solfagnano Charter on Inclusion and Disability” exhibition

Tuesday, 24 February 2026 at 1.00 p.m.
Salle des Pas Perdus, Palais des Nations

Delivered on behalf of the Director-General by Ms. Charlotte L. Warakaulle, 
Director of the Library and Archives Geneva, United Nations Office at Geneva

Minister Locatelli [Alessandra Locatelli, Italian Minister for Disabilities],
Ambassador Vignali [S.E. M. Luigi Maria Vignali]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am honoured to welcome you to the Palais des Nations for the opening of “The Solfagnano Charter on Inclusion and Disability” exhibition and to deliver opening remarks on behalf of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who unfortunately could not be with us today.

This exhibition is an important initiative reminding us that inclusion lies at the heart of our collective efforts to build more equitable and accessible societies. I would like to sincerely thank the Permanent Mission of Italy, as well as the Permanent Missions of Cyprus, Iraq, Mexico and Montenegro for bringing this exhibition to Geneva, and for presenting it here at the United Nations, a forum dedicated to advancing dignity, rights and the equal participation for all.

Today’s exhibition affirms a simple yet powerful principle: inclusion is not optional — it is a right. The Solfagnano Charter calls for the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life, on an equal basis with others.

Launched under Italy’s G7 Presidency in 2024, the Solfagnano Charter marked an important step in reaffirming the priority of the rights of persons with disabilities across public policy.

This exhibition also builds on the initiative presented here last year by Italy on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through the eyes of young people. I warmly welcome Minister Locatelli, who joins us again today and whose continued engagement reflects Italy’s steadfast commitment to advancing inclusion.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The principles of the Solfagnano Charter are grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which reminds us that disability is shaped not by impairment, but by the barriers created by society — barriers that can and must be removed. These same principles guide our Disability Inclusion Strategy and our efforts to ensure that inclusion is embedded across all areas of our work.

At the United Nations Office at Geneva, accessibility and the meaningful engagement of persons with disabilities are institutional priorities. Through the Strategic Heritage Plan, accessibility improvements have been integrated across the Palais des Nations — including tactile guiding strips, accessible routes, adapted conference tables, push-button doors at wheelchair height, and audio-visual equipment with Braille features. Wayfinding has been strengthened through clearer signage and tactile maps across the campus.

Accessibility has also been reinforced within the UN Library & Archives Geneva — including through expanded accessible digital collections and improved online platforms — ensuring that knowledge and information are available to all. We continue to organize awareness-raising events and staff training to foster greater understanding of disability inclusion, and we are working to better support colleagues with disabilities and staff members who have dependents with disabilities. Even in a challenging financial context, we remain committed to advancing inclusion within available resources.

Ladies and gentlemen,

A central element of both the Solfagnano Charter and the United Nations approach is the principle of “Nothing About Us, Without Us.” It affirms that persons with disabilities must be active partners in decision-making. Meaningful participation leads to better policies and honors dignity and lived experience.

The Solfagnano Charter highlights practical priorities — from accessibility and independent living to inclusive education, decent work, culture, community-based services and responsible technology — offering a comprehensive vision of inclusion in everyday life.

In this sense, it reinforces a message at the heart of the United Nations: disability inclusion is inseparable from sustainable development and from our commitment to leave no one behind. It also underscores the importance of multilateral cooperation in advancing inclusion at national, regional, and global levels.

Geneva is a centre of multilateral cooperation, bringing together governments, international organizations, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities to advance dialogue and implementation of inclusion and human rights commitments.

I invite you to engage with this exhibition and with the principles it highlights. May it serve as a reminder that inclusive societies require sustained commitment, accountability and partnership.

Thank you.