Health as a Pathway to Inclusion | Informal COSP19 Side Event

As the global disability community marks 20 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), questions around health equity and equal access to care remain central to achieving full inclusion and participation for persons with disabilities.

Access to healthcare, rehabilitation, assistive products, and lifelong support continues to vary significantly across countries, directly impacting education, employment, independence, and quality of life for persons with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

Against this background, IF organises an interactive webinar focused on advancing health equity as a foundation for inclusion.

Health as a Pathway to Inclusion – Advancing Equity for Persons with SBH

This webinar, organised in connection with the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP19), will explore how health systems and services can act as a key driver for inclusion, equity, and participation of persons with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, in line with the UNCRPD and Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 10.

Through country experiences and expert contributions from different regions, the session will highlight real barriers, share practical approaches, and identify solutions to strengthen more equitable and rights-based health systems.

We are honoured to welcome:

• Heba Hagrass, who will provide opening reflections on health as an enabler of inclusion and the implementation of disability rights globally.
• Nawaf Kabbara, who will share perspectives on advancing disability inclusion and health equity through international cooperation and advocacy.
• Victoria Sandoval de Lara, who will open the discussion and highlight the importance of health equity for persons with spina bifida and hydrocephalus worldwide.

The webinar will also feature speakers and advocates from Montenegro, Colombia, the United States, India, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Sudan, bringing together lived experience, professional expertise, and diverse regional perspectives.

Event details:

• 11 June 2026
• 14:30–16:30 CEST
• Online Zoom Webinar
• Register here