A/HRC/34/69 37. In response, Mr. Al Nuaimi remarked that persons with disabilities had greater ambitions and could accomplish more than what had already been achieved. International organizations needed to take practical measures and produce accurate assessments of progress. Ms. Dondovdorj agreed that actions should allow greater participation of young persons with disabilities in decision-making processes, and urged States to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty. Mr. Tonangoye emphasized the need to take into account all the provisions of the Convention throughout the life of persons with disabilities. He urged the international community to support the participation and inclusion of all. Mr. Martin noted the role of grass-roots systems in informing people about their rights and how to speak up. He stressed the importance of the right to education of persons with learning disabilities. F. Making development inclusive 38. The Special Adviser for International Disability Rights of the United States Department of State, Judith E. Heumann, reaffirmed in a video message the commitment of the United States to pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals domestically and internationally, in a disability-inclusive way. The Government supported disability-specific initiatives to address targeted needs and integrate disability more broadly. The Department of State encouraged the inclusion of participants with disabilities and disability issues in programmes; addressed inclusive education in dialogues with countries; provided technical assistance to civil society and Governments; and partnered with local organizations of persons with disabilities to advance effective implementation of the Convention, including in the inclusion of learners with disabilities in education programmes. 39. A member of the board of the Pan African Network of Persons with Psychosocial Disabilities, Michael Njenga, expressed the view that the Sustainable Development Goals had redefined the perception of Governments on persons with disabilities. The Convention represented a paradigm shift on the rights of persons with disabilities. Nonetheless, lack of robust statistical data on disability limited inclusive development programmes. The Government of Kenya had developed a national implementation plan that included advocacy and awareness-raising, mapping and engaging stakeholders, mainstreaming, and monitoring and evaluation. There was a need for representation and involvement of persons with disabilities in the institutions charged with implementation; developing actions to mainstream disability; building the capacity of organizations of persons with disabilities for advocacy; and increasing international cooperation, including funding for those organizations. 40. The Chair of the International Disability and Development Consortium, Priscille Geiser, described the Consortium’s work in the Convention negotiations, facilitating participation and advocating for an article on international cooperation. Its members had been working to reflect disability in policies and pushed for persons with disabilities to be included in the Sustainable Development Goals. At country level, they provided technical assistance to member States, service providers and organizations of persons with disabilities; the engagement and advice of those organizations were crucial to achieve disability-inclusive development. Donor countries still needed to mainstream disability rights, enforce policies at all levels, from headquarters to field offices, and to track expenditure on international cooperation. Data disaggregation using comparable tools was a priority to identify gaps and take action 41. The Senior Adviser on Children with Disability of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Rosangela Berman-Bieler, pointed out that stigma related to disability and barriers in the environment made it more difficult for children with disabilities to go to school, access health care and participate fully. Children with disabilities faced exclusion from the workforce, perpetuating cycles of poverty and affecting their families, especially 11