States must do more to prevent cyberbullying and ensure equal access to assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, especially women and girls, the Human Rights Council heard on Monday. Volker Türk, UN rights chief, emphasized that the international community is failing to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights regarding people with disabilities, as they are often discriminated against and held back. The High Commissioner for Human Rights also highlighted that cyberbullying makes online spaces unsafe for individuals with disabilities. Heba Hagrass, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, reported that progress in disability rights has stalled or regressed for 14 percent of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. Women and girls with disabilities face compounded discrimination, making their situation even more dire. Social media can be both a lifeline and a source of abuse for people with visible differences, according to disability rights advocate Nikki Lilly. However, facial recognition technology and some assistive technologies often fail to recognize the needs of individuals with facial differences. The lack of access to adequate technology and finance for climate resilience also hinders the rights and well-being of individuals with disabilities.

Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/03/1160981