ASDEPCO Disability inclusion Development Strategy (DIDS).
Introduction
Disability includes long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Some include; mental health, cerebral palsy, mobility impairment, just to name a few.
Over 1 billion people in the world today are estimated to experience disability. This corresponds to about 15% of the world’s population, with up to 190 million (3.8%) people aged 15years and older having significant difficulties in functioning, often requiring difficulties I functioning, and often requiring health care services, due to a rise in chronic health conditions and populations and also population ageing.
UNDIS & UNCT
The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), launched by the Secretary-General in June 2019, provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations (UN). Central to the strategy and its success is the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, which is a core element of the human rights-based approach and a precondition for implementing the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and achieving the 2030 Agenda. Article 4.3 of the CRPD requires close consultation with and active involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations. ASDEPCO believes that there can be no meaningful development without the full inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities.
When persons with disabilities participate in decision-making processes, it provides strong support towards ensuring that policies, strategies, programs and operations are more effective in addressing barriers to inclusion and more relevant in supporting their full and equal participation. Persons with disabilities have first-hand experience of the challenges they face and know better what can be done to enhance their rights and well-being. In addition, active organizations and their representative organizations is a key part of shifting attitudes and dismantling stigma.
Both the UNDIS entity accountability framework and the UNCT accountability scorecard on disability inclusion emphasize in their indicator 5 the importance and the cross-cutting nature of systematically consulting and actively involving persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.
Agenda 2030
The 2030 agenda for sustainable development clearly states that disability cannot be a reason or criterion for lack of access to development programming and the realization of human rights. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) framework includes seven targets that explicitly refer to persons with disabilities, and six further targets on persons in vulnerable situations, which include persons with disabilities.