Director-General/Executive Director
Good afternoon everyone,
Dear Mr. Essl,
Dear colleagues and friends,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I’m delighted to join you this afternoon for this musical performance by the White Hands Chorus Nippon.
You’ve all had a busy week and we have beautiful music to enjoy, so I won’t take up much of your time, especially on a Friday afternoon.
I would like first and foremost to thank Mr. Essl and his Foundation for convening yet another remarkable Zero Conference this year.
Over the past two days, you’ve organized over 100 events, bringing together more than 1,000 participants from around the world to explore innovative solutions, expand networks, and exchange experiences.
Together, we have celebrated a multitude of impactful and innovative projects. And while each of them is different and unique in their own way, they all share a common goal: to create a more accessible and inclusive world for all persons with disabilities.
I was deeply inspired by the personal stories we heard during the opening segment of the conference, including the testimony by Ms. Lydia Vlagsma, who shared her experience with an invisible disability, and her powerful message to “challenge yourself to look beyond what is considered normal” and to make the invisible visible.
Her words speak to a wider truth of this Zero Conference, that we must break down barriers, both internally and externally.
This is so important if we are to create an inclusive and accessible environment where everyone feels welcome and understood, and where everyone is empowered to enjoy their rights without being questioned.
I would also like to express my gratitude to Ms. Erika Colon, the artistic vision behind the White Hands Chorus Nippon, who will be guiding these 70 talented young musicians from Japan in their rendition of Ode to Joy.
The White Hands Chorus embodies the very essence of inclusivity, showcasing the beauty of diversity and the power of music and sign language to connect with one another.
Music unites us all. It allows us to understand and communicate through a common language. It helps us break down stereotypes and misconceptions. Above all, it touches the soul and gives life to new experiences.
And we are blessed to be experiencing this music here in Vienna, a city steeped in rich cultural heritage and musical history, where Ludwig van Beethoven pursued his passion, challenged the conventions of his time, and in doing so broke down barriers in the musical world.
I look forward to continuing the UN’s close partnership with the Zero Project and to welcoming you all again next year, to hear about the impressive work that you are doing. You can continue to count on the United Nations Office at Vienna and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime as your partner and ally, as we strive for a world where everyone can live a fulfilling life.
To share the words of Ginny Laughlin, an advocate for persons who are blind, at the North Carolina Museum of Art, “Not every mind or body will experience art the same way. But every mind and body is entitled to the experience.”
As we watch and listen to the musical performance of the White Hands Chorus, let us take this experience with us beyond these halls, and continue advocating for disability inclusion across all spheres of life.
Thank you.