China and over 80 countries on Wednesday highlighted the importance of promoting inclusive societies to benefit women with disabilities and to contribute to their development.

Speaking at the ongoing 54th Human Rights Council, Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations at Geneva, said that women with disabilities are equal members of the human family.

On behalf of the over 80 countries, Chen said in a joint statement that since the Fourth World Conference on Women convened in Beijing, the global cause of women development has advanced significantly. However, women with disabilities face difficulties such as insufficient social security, discrimination and poverty.

The statement called for the international community to raise awareness of social inclusion, make efforts to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against women with disabilities, make the cause of persons with disabilities better known through education, and develop a multi-tiered social support system and improve social security and care service system for persons with disabilities.

Citing that the employment rate of women with disabilities falls behind that of all persons with disabilities and that of women, the joint statement stressed that efforts are needed to facilitate their comprehensive development and common prosperity so that their rights to life and development are better promoted and protected.

Also, provision of better elderly care conditions, medical conditions and other social security measures for women with disabilities should be encouraged, the joint statement added.

In order to promote inclusive societies, the joint statement said, the international community needs to construct accessible facilities to make them more systematic, available and inclusive.

"We should make good use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence to diversify ways for women with disabilities to equally share the fruits of economic and social development," it said.

"Engagement of women with disabilities in economic, social and cultural affairs must be expanded so that they act as participants, contributors and also beneficiaries of our efforts to promote the overall development of people and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," the statement said.

At another debate related to human rights on Wednesday, Chen told the participants the achievements China has made in the comprehensive development of the cause of disabled people in the country.

Noting the eighth national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation has just been held in Beijing, Chen said it put forward relevant measures to improve the social security system and care and service system for disabled people and jointly create a better life for the disabled in the process of Chinese modernization.

Chen added China in recent years adheres to the people-centered development philosophy and fully protects the rights and basic livelihood of disabled people. "No one with disabilities should be left behind."

As the year 2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action, Chen said China is to take this opportunity with all parties to jointly promote and protect all human rights, including the rights of persons with disabilities.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: Chen Xu, head of the Chinese Mission to the United Nations at Geneva, speaks at a UN conference in Geneva, Switzerland, July 9, 2019. /Xinhua)