We need to do better for 1.3 billion people around the world

“In almost all aspects, persons with disabilities are in a worse situation than those without disabilities,“ said UN DESA’s Masumi Ono. “We need to be doing better,” she stressed as we spoke about the upcoming Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities taking place on 13-15 June 2023. 

1. What can you tell us about the situation for persons with disabilities around the world?

“The situation is unacceptable for the 1.3 billion people in the world. We need to be doing better.

In the past few years, the whole world was set back due to COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, climate change related disasters and economic hardships. The entrenched inequalities and injustices only exacerbated the situation of persons with disabilities. They were often excluded from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic; only 44% of countries that announced COVID-19 social protection relief measures included provisions for persons with disabilities.

In almost all aspects, persons with disabilities are in worse situation than those without disabilities -- in terms of multidimensional poverty, food insecurity, unemployment, health and education.  They are disproportionately affected by climate change and natural disasters, pandemic and health crises, humanitarian situations, conflict and post-conflict. They suffer from lack of social protection, access to infrastructure, information, social and financial services. And they continue to be subjected to discrimination and exclusion.

More findings will be available in our update of the Disability Development Report (DDR). Our team in UN DESA, working closely with UN partners and other experts, have been able to show some trends using the baseline data from the 2018 DDR as well as additional information gathered from multiple sources. Although some areas show progress, for the most part, the numbers paint a dire picture of areas desperately needing improvements.

The DDR also makes it clear that we still need more disaggregated and comparable data to inform policies and decision making -- if we are to truly leave no one behind.

2. In 2008 the Convention of on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) came into force. How are nations fairing when it comes to realizing this treaty?

“The CRPD has given a foundation upon which we can build a fair, inclusive and resilient world and make a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities. 186 countries have ratified the Convention.

The Convention shifted the notion of disability as the human experience, not an intrinsic characteristic, and recognizes that disability results from “the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.”

This rights-based approach has propelled institutional and policy changes, with many countries enacting legislations and putting regulatory systems in place.

In education for example, 75% of countries had laws guaranteeing the integration of students with disabilities in mainstream schools by 2018. This is a major step to eliminate the exclusion that students with disabilities experienced in the past, and schools have become more accessible to all. From 2013 to 2021, the percentage of countries with school materials inclusive of students with disabilities almost tripled, from 17% to 47%. In labour regulations, by 2021, 79% of countries had prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities in job hiring, up from 74% in 2016.

However, many challenges remain in fully realizing the rights set out by the Convention. Barriers persist in the form of discrimination, prejudice and stigma. Women and girls are particularly at greater risk of exploitation, maltreatment, violence and abuse.”

3. What does this year’s Conference of States Parties to CRPD hope to achieve?

“Over 15 years have passed since the Convention entered into force. In this critical implementation phase, the Conference will take stock of achievements and challenges in harmonizing national policies and strategies with the CRPD. And for the first time in its history, the Conference will tackle issues concerning sexual and reproductive health services for person with disabilities. Digital accessibility for persons with disabilities will be addressed, including the gaps and opportunities to advance inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities. The Conference will also focus on the under-represented groups, highlighting the importance of recognizing the diverse needs and contributions of persons with disabilities.

The Conference offers an inclusive space to share lived experiences to mobilize action, drawing 1,500 delegates and observers from over 180 countries with around 40 ministerial level participation, joined by parliamentarians, UN entities, National Human Rights Institutions and nearly 100 NGOs including many organizations of persons with disabilities.

Under the leadership of the Presidency (Tunisia) and the Bureau of the Conference, we hope all participants will take away from the Conference a sense of solidarity, inclusion and partnership and reaffirm the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation in the implementation of CRPD.”

4. Looking towards the SDG Summit, what can be done to engage persons with disabilities as contributors and agents of change in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?

“The SDG Summit marks a key milestone halfway through towards 2030. Despite all the setback, we cannot afford to give up on the SDGs.

The Convention emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of strategies for sustainable development. The SDGs will not be achieved without mainstreaming disability inclusion and recognizing the contributions of persons with disabilities to sustainable development.

Targeted efforts would be needed to achieve the disability related SDG Goals and Targets. Seven targets explicitly refer to persons with disabilities; six targets refer to persons in vulnerable situations; and several targets are universal targets which include persons with disabilities.

The principle of “Nothing about us without us” should be operationalized. Full and effective participation and inclusion in society of persons with disabilities should guide every planning and programming processes. Greater support is needed to facilitate persons with disabilities and their organizations, including especially from developing countries, to participate in the relevant national, regional and global processes for SDG implementation.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy has been instrumental in mainstreaming disability inclusion in the work of the United Nations, guiding the UN efforts towards an inclusive and accessible world that leaves no one behind.

Harnessing the contribution of persons with disabilities needs to be built-in throughout various areas of our work. To do so, we need to seriously invest in strengthening capacities, resources and innovation.”

For more information: The Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities