NEW YORK, JUNE 13 – “Run for Autism“. The Italian NGO Progetto Filippide described its initiative today in New York to underscore the crucial importance of ensuring equal access and promoting participation of persons with disabilities and especially children in sports.
Joining a special event at UN Headquarters organized by the Italian mission along with Belarus, the Dominican Republic, Qatar, Slovakia and two other Italian Ngos, Teatro Patologico and Inter Campus, the initiative emphasized the need to raise awareness, mainstream the consideration of disabilities in formulating policies, and ensure participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life, also through arts, sports and culture.
“The theme, is very dear to Italy, which is also the overarching theme of the Conference on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities this year the full inclusion of persons with disabilities. We will focus on persons with mental and intellectual disabilities, and on persons on the autism spectrum, and on their participation in social life through sports, cultural activities, specifically theatrical arts”, said the Deputy Permanent Representative Stefano Stefanile, recalling that Article 30 of the Convention on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities recognizes their participation in cultural life, recreational leisure and sport as fundamental factors for the realization of their human rights.
“One of the challenges that persons with mental disabilities, and with disabilities in general, have to face is this irrational ‘social stigma’ and the correlated feeling of exclusion that comes from it. This is where we believe that sports and theatrical arts can indeed play a decisive role”, said Stefanile stressing that the contributions brought by Italian NGOs to the debate – Progetto Filippide, Teatro Patologico and Inter Campus – are equally outstanding in what they do on a daily basis, both nationally and internationally, for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. “They have a record of participation in the CRPD and in other UN events. The Italian Mission is really proud to have them here with us and eager to continue this cooperation in the future”. (@OnuItalia)
