Global Disability Summit Highlights Necessity for Inclusion on the International Agenda

The Global Disability Summit, the largest international event focused on the rights of individuals with disabilities, commenced in Berlin on April 2 and 3, 2025. This summit aims to address the pressing need for inclusion in international development cooperation, humanitarian aid, and global health agendas.

Katri Bertram, the international director for impact and advocacy at Licht für die Welt, emphasized the importance of making inclusion a central element of these initiatives. With approximately one in six people worldwide living with a disability, the issue is far from marginal and demands urgent attention. The summit seeks to ensure that development cooperation and humanitarian assistance are accessible to all, leaving no one behind due to their disabilities.

A key component of the summit is the commitment made by various states and organizations to promote inclusion within their development efforts. Licht für die Welt has pledged to provide dignified employment opportunities for 500,000 young men and women across seven African nations. Additionally, they have committed to working with at least 25 self-advocacy organizations, including local blind associations, to ensure that humanitarian aid in countries like Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and South Sudan is inclusive and barrier-free. They also aim to assist at least one public educational institution in a partner country in making its educational offerings inclusive.

This year marks Austria's inaugural participation in this significant event. Licht für die Welt commended this step but urged the Austrian government to remain steadfast and courageous in their commitment to inclusion, especially in light of impending budget cuts. Bertram stressed that Austria must play a vital role in keeping inclusion on the global agenda, ensuring that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from development cooperation and humanitarian efforts.

The organization underscored the necessity for Austria to adopt concrete commitments to align with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, advocating for all activities to be accessible. Furthermore, Licht für die Welt called for enhanced collaboration with organizations that represent individuals with disabilities, such as local blind and deaf associations, in the development of programs.

At the Global Disability Summit 2025, activists, experts, and influential representatives from various governments convene to discuss ways to implement inclusion for the 1.3 billion individuals with disabilities worldwide, representing one-sixth of the global population. The summit urges governments globally to take actionable steps to sign and adhere to the Amman-Berlin Declaration, reinforcing their commitment to inclusive policies.

For further information about Licht für die Welt's commitments and initiatives, please visit their official website.