The International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the Governments of Norway and Ghana host the second ever Global Disability Summit, February 16-17. The virtual event is being live-streamed from Norway.

Bringing together governments, businesses, development professionals, and Organizations for People with Disabilities (OPDs), the Global Disability Summit is a pivotal moment for the world to commit to change and do more to include people with disabilities.

This second-ever global summit on strengthening the inclusion of people with disabilities builds on the progress made in the wake of the first Global Disability Summit in London in 2018. Throughout the summit more than 1,544 new commitments to disability rights are being announced by organizations and governments in more than 150 countries.

The number of people with disabilities is estimated to be around 15% of the world’s population, around one billion people, and 80% live in low- and middle-income countries. Despite this, millions of people with disabilities still face stigma, discrimination, and barriers to full-participation in society. People with disabilities have also disproportionately been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am pleased to be co-hosting the Global Disability Summit together with the President of Ghana and the International Disability Alliance. With less than eight years to go before the world is to reach the Sustainable Development Goals, we must ensure that people with disabilities are able to take part in social and economic development on an equal footing with society at large.”

— the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, in a welcome video

“Governments have a solemn obligation to commit to building an inclusive society in which every citizen has the opportunity to develop his or her God-given talent to the fullest. The circumstances of one’s birth cannot and must not be a barrier to any citizen’s participation in – and their benefit from – the process of national development”.

— President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Global Disability Summit Speakers and Representatives

Along with the Prime Ministers of Ghana and Norway, representatives from more than 15 governments are speaking at the summit and making commitments. International organizations that will be represented include the World Health Organization, the United Nations, UNICEF, USAID, UNHCR, the Global Partnership for Education, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Save the Children, the Valuable 500, and the International Labour Organization.

Key facts:

  • Over 1,544 commitments to disability rights will be made for GDS 2022.
  • This exceeds the 968 commitments made in 2018.
  • More than 178 organizations from 151 countries will make commitments.
  • Over 300 commitments from governments will be made.
  • Commitments will come from all regions of the world: Global (36%), Africa (45%), Asia-Pacific (7%), Europe (6%), Latin America and the Caribbean (3%), Middle East (2%), North America (0.5%).
  • More than 2,200 people have registered for the youth Summit and over 4,400 people will virtually attend the main summit.
  • Alongside the main summit there are 4 thematic workshops, 4 regional summits, 2 thematic round tables and 91 side events.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has not only shown us that we are all connected, but has also highlighted the devastating inequalities faced by people with disabilities. We must do more to include the world’s 1.2 billion people with disabilities, who cannot and will not be ignored. The Global Disability Summit is an opportunity for all of us to make progress towards a world where everyone is included and can access their human rights.”

— Vladimir Cuk, Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance

For more information, an up-to-date agenda, and to participate online, visit Global Disability Summit. Follow Twitter at @GDS_Disability, #CommitToChange and #GDS2022 for updates and live announcements.

[Source(s): Global Disability Summit, PRWeb]