Play/Performance “I Dance”

Ambassador Borodavkin,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen:

When I prepared for today’s event I did some research. ‘What is it like to live with Down syndrome?’, I wondered. Here is what I found:
- A person with Down syndrome has 47 chromosomes, that is one more than most people.
- The extra chromosome causes certain physical characteristics, such as a short stature and certain facial features, but overall people with Down syndrome resemble more their family than each other.
- Children with Down syndrome may have cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate.
- Many adults with Down syndrome pursue their studies, have jobs, and marry. Many have independent lives and thrive.
- In a study, 99% of adults with Down syndrome reported they were happy with their lives.
- People with Down syndrome are a lot like you and me: They are unique people with strengths and talents.

Tonight, we have the unique opportunity to witness their strengths and talents. Ten out of twelve of the dancers in tonight’s performance live with Down syndrome. The show ‘I Dance’ has been developed as part of the “InterAction” project, a Russian volunteer movement aimed at dismantling prejudices against persons with Down syndrome and creating a tolerant social environment.

I sincerely thank the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation and the UN Global Compact Network Russia for bringing this very special dance performance to the Palais des Nations, here tonight. It takes place on the side of the 6th session of United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights which started yesterday and will continue until tomorrow.

With tonight’s play, the organizers remind us about the rights of people with disabilities. They remind us that often it takes very little to adjust our environments to the needs of people with disabilities which could enable them to live just like everyone else. And they remind us that by adapting our environments and our mindsets, we create inclusive societies that, ultimately, benefit us all.

When developing the Sustainable Development Goals, people with disabilities were at the table to make sure that their needs were integrated into the new framework. The 2030 Agenda is an expression of our consciousness that people are disabled by the society that surrounds them rather than by their bodies or diagnoses.

Ladies and gentlemen:
One household in every four has a member with a disability. WHO estimates the incidence of Down syndrome at around 1 in 1,000 live births worldwide.

Behind these numbers are people with hopes and dreams. They too want to make a difference in this world and they do, truly. It is this kind of energy that we need to make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our joint Road Map, a reality for everyone. It cannot be reached without people with disabilities and it cannot be reached without people with Down syndrome.

Let us give a very warm welcome to the distinguished artists who will present to us a fine sample of their talents.

Thank you all for joining tonight’s event and I wish you an excellent evening.