The 12^th session of the Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was held in New York on 11-13 June 2019, which was attended by Rusudan Kokhodze, Deputy Head of the Department of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Public Defender's Office.

Rusudan Kokhodze provided information about challenges relating to the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Georgia. She focused on the failure of institutional mechanisms, as well as the main problems impeding the effective realization of the fundamental rights of persons with disabilities over the years.

The theme of the 12^th conference was “Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD". In addition, the topics of discussion within the round table format were: digital technologies, information and communications for strengthening and inclusion of persons with disabilities; social inclusion and the right to the highest standard of health; inclusion of persons with disabilities through engagement in cultural, recreational and sports activities.

In parallel with the conference, the GANHRI (Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions) working group on persons with disabilities, where the Public Defender's Office represents the European Network of Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI) together with the Finnish Ombudsman, held a meeting.

Conference of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is held every year and brings together all national human rights institutions of State Parties to the CRPD, as well as international and national NGOs working on the rights of persons with disabilities.