A major meeting focused on disability rights will take place in Geneva from March 9 to 27, where the committee for the rights of persons with disabilities will discuss reports from five countries regarding their efforts to promote accessibility and rights for disabled individuals. However, the UN's conference division has stated that funding for essential services such as sign language interpretation cannot be guaranteed unless there is an improvement in the UN's financial situation. This poses a severe threat to the effectiveness of the committee's work.

The committee has warned that if a solution is not found, the lack of sign language interpreters could prevent them from fulfilling their responsibilities, which would represent a significant setback for the inclusion of disabled persons in UN initiatives. Such a restriction is seen as particularly harmful given the ongoing global push for more comprehensive inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of society, especially within international dialogues and decision-making processes.

In response to the announcement, a wave of criticism has emerged from various organizations. Beyond the UN committee itself, multiple human rights organizations have taken to social media to express their discontent. Notably, Human Rights Watch emphasized that accessibility should not be treated as optional, while the International Disability Alliance (IDA) highlighted how this funding issue undermines essential efforts toward promoting disability rights and accessibility at the UN level.