Judicial Guardianship of Global Norms: Courts, Disability Rights, and the Role of the United Nations

On June 10, 2025, Ms. Heba Hagrass, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reflected on both the progress and ongoing challenges involved in promoting inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. During the 18th Conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), held in New York from June 10 to 12, 2025, she noted that the world has become increasingly uncertain and divided over the past year. She also remarked that multilateralism is under pressure and that funding for human development, including support for the rights of persons with disabilities, is decreasing. Despite these challenges, she highlighted that the world possesses strong frameworks to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind.