United to achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities

The five dimensions of sustainable development – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships – are all essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ahead of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we discussed with UN DESA’s Guozhong Zhang, how including persons with disabilities in all these dimensions can create a more equal world for everyone.

People (focus on women and girls with disabilities):
How can we ensure that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind when pursuing gender equality and the SDGs?

“We must develop and implement policies that address the intersectionality of gender and disability. This means removing barriers to education, healthcare and other essential services. It means promoting equal opportunities for decent work by improving physical accessibility, providing necessary accommodations, and promoting inclusive pathways from education to employment. It is also important to create platforms for women and girls with disabilities to share their experiences and contribute to decision-making processes.”

Planet (focus on climate change and its impact on persons with disabilities):
How does climate change affect persons with disabilities, and what measures can be taken to reduce these impacts?

“Climate change is a global issue that impacts everyone, but it can have particularly severe effects on persons with disabilities due to their challenges with mobility, obtaining information, and existing health conditions. To address this, it is important to design inclusive climate change adaptation and disaster response plans, prepared in close consultation with persons with disabilities. This means providing accessible emergency information, accommodating persons with different disabilities in evacuation procedures, and involving persons with disabilities in planning processes. It is also crucial to create accessible and resilient infrastructure, such as healthcare facilities, to improve the safety and preparedness of persons with disabilities in the face of climate-related challenges.”

Prosperity (focus on allocating financial resources for inclusive development):
How should we allocate financial resources to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities?

“The inclusion of persons with disabilities in development is crucial for global prosperity. This means ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from development. To achieve this, we need to allocate financial resources effectively and adequately, and ensure that disability is mainstreamed in financing for development. This involves investing in accessible infrastructure in public spaces, transportation, and buildings to remove physical barriers. Additionally, funding should be allocated to research and development of assistive technologies to improve the quality of life and autonomy of persons with disabilities.”

Peace (focus on the impact of conflict on persons with disabilities):
How can humanitarian responses be customized to meet the needs of persons with disabilities during conflicts?

“Conflict and other emergencies often have disproportionate effects on persons with disabilities. We need tailored strategies that address the specific needs of persons with disabilities, such as physical accessibility, sign language interpreters, and accessible information formats. It is essential to provide training to emergency personnel to increase their awareness of, and ability to respond, the needs of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, we must ensure that persons with disabilities are involved in planning and decision-making processes to consider their unique perspectives and create more effective responses.”

Partnerships (focus on collaboration with the global community of persons with disabilities):
In what ways can partnerships with organizations led by, or representing, persons with disabilities help accelerate SDG progress?

“Partnerships with the global community of persons with disabilities are essential for the success of the SDGs. By collaborating with this community, we can obtain valuable insights, innovative solutions, and untapped abilities. Persons with disabilities have a distinct viewpoint on the challenges and opportunities of development, and they can play a vital role in designing and implementing inclusive solutions. These partnerships help design accessible programs, promote the effective implementation of disability-inclusive policies, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation processes capture genuine impact.”

Learn more about these efforts and follow this year's observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 1 December 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York live via UN Web TV.