Nilshani De Silva to represent Sri Lanka at UN Disability Rights Conference

Sri Lankan disability rights advocate Nilshani De Silva has been selected to represent the country at the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which will be held at the United Nations Headquarters.

The conference, marking the 20th anniversary of the CRPD, is considered the leading global platform on disability rights, bringing together governments, policymakers, and advocates from around the world.

Nilshani De Silva has been appointed as Sri Lanka’s Youth Representative and is scheduled to address the opening session on June 9, alongside the UN Secretary-General and other international leaders.

Born with Down Syndrome, she is a prominent disability rights advocate, motivational speaker, teacher, and fashion designer, widely recognized for her work promoting inclusion and challenging stereotypes related to persons with disabilities.

Sri Lanka, which signed the CRPD in 2007 and ratified it in 2016, will also chair this year’s session of the conference.

Her participation is being viewed as a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, underscoring the importance of inclusion and representation of persons with disabilities in global decision-making processes.