Supporting Participation Program
Disability Rights
In 2024-25, the Department of Social Services (DSS) will contribute funding through the Supporting Participation Program (Supporting Participation by Representatives of People with Disability in Key International Forums on Human Rights Program) for people with disability to attend the following key international human rights forums:
- 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA), 10 to 21 March 2025.
- 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP18) at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States of America (USA), 10 to 12 June 2025.
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
Every year, member states gather at UN Headquarters in New York for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) to evaluate progress on gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and the advancement of women worldwide.
At each of these meetings, the member states of CSW develop agreed recommendations for governments, intergovernmental bodies, NGOs and other relevant bodies.
CSW69 will focus on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Beijing Declaration and Platform were agreed to at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, form a global agenda for women's empowerment. The Declaration and the Platform for Action are the international community’s most comprehensive policy document for the empowerment of women and gender equality. The Beijing Platform for Action and CEDAW operate together to achieve equality and eliminate discrimination against women.
Conference of State Parties (COSP18)
Article 40 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) establishes that State Parties shall meet regularly in a Conference of State Parties (COSP) to consider any matter with regard to the implementation of the Convention.
COSP is held on an annual basis, and covers a range of themes and issues in round-tables, interactive dialogues and side-events.
The themes for COSP18 have not yet been announced.
Access more information and stay up to date on COSP.
Participation
The Supporting Participation Program (Supporting Participation by Representatives of People with Disability in Key International Forums on Human Rights Program) seeks to give effect to the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), including:
- Article 4.3 for States Parties to closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities through their representative organisations in the implementation of the CRPD.
- Article 29 for States Parties to guarantee participation of people with disabilities in political and public life.
- Article 33(3) for civil society, in particular persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, to be involved and participate fully in the monitoring process.
- Article 40 for State Parties to meet regularly in a Conference of State Parties (COSP) to consider the implementation of the CRPD.
Who can apply for funding?
Individuals with disability, with the support of organisations.
Applications will only be accepted from organisations that have UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Consultative Status (or that are accredited for COSP18).
More information on ECOSOC accreditation.
Delegations
Individuals can apply for funding through the Supporting Participation Program to attend an identified forum as part of either Delegation:
- The General Delegation is for people with disability with demonstrated human rights advocacy experience to attend the identified forum.
- Delegates will represent the experiences and interests of Australians with disability exchange information and good practice and influence policy change at an international level.
- Delegates are also expected to actively support and mentor the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation.
- There are no age restrictions for individuals applying under the General Delegation.
- Individuals between 18 – 35 years are welcome to apply to this stream instead of the Emerging Young Leaders Delegation if preferred.
- The Emerging Young Leaders Delegation is for young advocates with disability that show leadership potential to attend the identified forum, as an opportunity for the next generation to build capacity to represent the Australian disability community.
- The age range for eligibility in this category is 18 – 35 years, as at the application date.
- Individuals will have an opportunity to network with advocates in the international human rights movement, learn about strategic advocacy and its application to domestic advocacy, and participate in an important UN forum.
Information to include in applications
The ‘Expression of Interest Guide’ sets out the information required, covering both the organisation and the individual seeking funding. It also provides the application form that needs to be completed.
The application must include an overview of the budget requested. This budget should include any funding or in-kind contribution that the organisation will make towards the overall cost of attendance.
Format of applications
Applications need to include the information outlined in the ‘Application Form’ and can be made through any of the following formats:
- Written document
- Easy Read (no length limit)
- Video (maximum of five minutes)
- Audio file (maximum of five minutes)
Easy Read, video and audio files can be supported by an additional one-page written summary.
Selection and assessment process
Supporting organisations can submit applications supporting multiple individuals, but each individual application will be assessed separately.
Factors considered in the assessment are outlined in the ‘Application Form’.
DSS will ensure funding is balanced to reflect the diversity of the Australian community, including (but not limited to) considering experiences of people with different types of disability, age, First Nations people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people from regional and remote areas, and people from the LGBTQIAP+ community.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is managing the Expression of Interest by receiving and assessing applications, and will provide a Recommendation Report to DSS. The roles of the Commission, the Australian Government and Civil Society Organisations participating in the 2025 UN conferences are outlined in the 'Roles and Responsibilities' document, available in both PDF and Word.
Timeline for applications
- 4 November 2024 – Calls for Expressions of Interest opens
- 13 December 2024 – Expression of Interest closes
- Early 2025 – Organisations and individuals advised of outcome
All applications must be submitted to disability@humanrights.gov.au by 5pm on the 13 December 2024.
Please contact the Disability Rights Team at the email address above with any questions.
Note: Once funding decisions have been determined, questions around funding of delegates should be directed to the relevant contact at DSS (the Commission will provide these details to successful applicants).
Key documents on this page
Access the 'Expression of Interest (EOI) Guide' in PDF format
Access the 'Expression of Interest (EOI) Guide' in Word format
Access the 'Roles and Responsibilities' Guide in PDF format
Access the 'Roles and Responsibilities' Guide in Word format
Access Easy Read Information about CSW69 in PDF format
Access Easy Read Information about CSW69 in Word format