Solomon Islands Represented in the 19^th Session of the Conference of State Party to the CRPD 9-11 June 2026, UN HQ New York

Solomon Islands delegation and PIF Representative at the opening of the Conference

SI Side Event Presentation Perspective on, Unlocking Global Access – Financing Assistive Technology and Navigating International Trade Systems

Solomon Islands as a party to the Convention of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was part of the 19^th Session of the Conference of State Parties (COSP) held at United Nations Headquaters, New York from 9-11 June 2026. The session marks the 20 years commemoration of the CRPD implementation since its inception. A period during which member states paused to reflect, exchange experiences, and assess achievements and challenges. This collective effort contributed to shaping the way forward by strengthening learning from best practices and building on the progress achieved in a time of ongoing transition.

The overarching theme of the session is, CRPD at 20: celebrating and consolidating achievements and shaping the next phase of implementation in a changing world.  The theme was supported by three sub-themes these include;

1. Sub-theme for Roundtable 1: Creating a world free from exploitation, violence and abuse for all persons with disabilities
2. Sub-theme for Roundtable 2: Resilient societies: strengthening care and support systems to ensure the empowerment, autonomy and independence of all persons with disabilities
3. Sub-theme for Roundtable 3:From participation to representation: enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life.

In delivering the national statement during the general debate of the Conference Mrs Elsie Taloafiri highlighted Solomon Islands progress in  strengthening care and support systems to ensure the empowerment, autonomy and independence of all persons with disabilities in the provisions of rehabilitation and assistive technology and the progress made by Solomon Islands Electoral Commission in progressing participation of persons with disabilities to representation in enhancing accessible civic engagement, leadership and advocacy in political and public life.

Mrs. Taloafiri reaffirms that despite the challenges, Solomon Islands remains committed in progressing CRPD through collaborative partnership with Government Ministries, International Cooperation, Civil Society Organizations, Non-Government Organizations, Private Sector, Donors and Organizations for Persons with Disabilities in optimizing disability inclusion and reduce disability exclusion.

Solomon Islands delegation also participated at a side event co-sponsored  by the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the UN, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the UN ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology with support from UNICEF, International Disability Alliance (IDA) and China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) as panellist to share Solomon Islands perspective on the title : Unlocking Global Access: Financing Assistive Technology and Navigating International Trade Systems.

Speaking at the side event, Mrs. Taloafiri said that the mission to the COSP was also to explore and learn from other countries in in terms of their implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting on the CRPD as Solomon Islands is due for CRPD reporting end of next year 2027.

This year’s CoSP marked a historic milestone for the Pacific region, as two candidates Palau and Samoa were elected among the nine members to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Additionally,  this CoSP  registered high attendance by Pacific Islands capital based focal points and representation for the first time, including representatives from Palau, Samoa, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Papaua New guinea, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), and the Pacific Disability Forum (PDF).The Solomon Islands delegation was represented by Director Mrs. Elsie Taloafiri National Rehabilitation and Disability Division and Disability and Program Coordinator Elwin Taloimatakwa under Ministry of Health and Medical Services as the Government Disability Focal Point. The Delegation was technically supported by the Solomon Islands Mission to United Nations Office in New York by Deputy Permanent Representative/ Charge de Affairs Ms Fiona Indu and Second Secretary Ms Samantha Kanai.

Solomon Islands participation to the COSP was supported by PIFS and Ministry of Health and Medical Services. The delegation would like to acknowledge all whom have contributed to the participation of Solomon Islands to the 19^th Session include, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs UN Desk and Protocol Unit, Solomon Islands High Commission Office -PNG and Solomon Islands Permanent Mission to United Nations Headquaters, New York.