A/HRC/34/69 Network, Mongolian National Federation of the Blind, National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, Niger Federation of Persons with Disabilities, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry and Public Television of Argentina. Speakers discussed national efforts to achieve empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities by addressing diversity; the potential added value of a United Nations database of practical educational materials on the rights of persons with disabilities; opportunities for rights-based advocacy; the need for more interpreters and guides to support persons with disabilities; segregation of persons with disabilities in schools; and issues facing women with disabilities, including forced sterilization and lack of quality health care. 71. In her concluding remarks, Ms. Akram noted the importance of including women and girls with disabilities in political processes such as voting. Mr. Cabrera stated that the Convention must be mainstreamed throughout policies. He stressed the need for greater visibility of persons with disabilities and their rights, and for sharing good practices. Ms. Mikkonen-Jeanneret underlined instruments for implementing a human rights-based approach in governmental work, particularly by monitoring projects funded by international cooperation for compliance with international human rights standards, and urged continued and increased involvement by civil society, taking into account specific contexts. Mr. Maiga Idriss urged that the rights of persons with disabilities be realized on the ground, and echoed remarks about the harmful impacts people faced because of a lack of necessary support. IV. Conclusions and recommendations 72. In closing, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights underlined the need to move beyond abstract expertise even as the need for more research and knowledge management with respect to the lived experience of persons with disabilities became apparent. Civil society must be empowered in order to hold the duty bearers and other actors accountable. Business was an influential actor for enhancing the dignity of persons with disabilities, through employment, innovation, services, and platforms for leadership, participation and other contributions. Greater recognition of the challenges, and engagement by all actors, in the context of humanitarian crises were needed to secure human dignity for all people. The movement of persons with disabilities demonstrated that human life was precious and that everyone was entitled to human dignity. A. Conclusions 73. Several conclusions emerged from the 2016 Social Forum, some of which were presented by the Co-Chair-Rapporteur, Carl Allan Reaich, in his closing remarks. Mr. Reaich noted that participants had recalled important advances made since the adoption of the Convention. So far, 169 States and the European Union had ratified the Convention and 92 had ratified its Optional Protocol; nine sessions of the Conference of States Parties had been held. The Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had been created, and it had reviewed 47 States and adopted four general comments and 14 views on individual communications. The universal periodic review had also contributed to promoting the Convention. At the national level, legislation and policies were being reformed or developed. Further, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development contained explicit references to persons with disabilities and inclusive language. 74. The disability community needed to be engaged in mainstream policymaking to ensure understanding of key issues on the rights of persons with disabilities as part of 18