Global Summit on Disability Rights Takes Place in Berlin

A significant gathering addressing the rights of individuals with disabilities is underway in Berlin, with the Global Disability Summit (GDS) taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. As the largest event of its kind, this summit aims to highlight the importance of inclusivity for the estimated one in six people worldwide living with a disability. The primary goal of the summit is to enhance accessibility in development cooperation (EZA) and humanitarian aid.

Katri Bertram, the international director for impact and advocacy at the organization 'Licht für die Welt', emphasized the necessity for inclusion to be a central element in international development cooperation and humanitarian efforts. She stressed that adequate funding is vital for achieving these objectives. One of the key anticipated outcomes of the summit is the adoption of the 'Amman-Berlin Declaration on Global Inclusion of People with Disabilities.' This declaration is expected to serve as a pivotal milestone in promoting the rights of this marginalized group globally, committing to inclusive international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

The declaration also emphasizes the critical engagement of self-advocacy organizations representing persons with disabilities (OPDs) and aims to encourage effective partnerships among stakeholders. A central aspect of the summit involves commitments from nations and organizations to ensure that inclusivity is realized in development cooperation and humanitarian efforts.

'Licht für die Welt' has pledged to support 500,000 young men and women in seven African nations by providing them with dignified job opportunities. Additionally, the organization aims to collaborate with at least 25 self-advocacy organizations, such as local blindness associations, to guarantee that humanitarian aid in countries like Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, and South Sudan is inclusive and accessible. Furthermore, the NGO plans to assist at least one public educational institution in one of its partner countries in making its educational offerings more inclusive.

This year marks Austria's inaugural participation in the GDS, a development welcomed by 'Licht für die Welt,' which urged the government to remain committed to advancing inclusion despite upcoming budget cuts. Bertram reiterated that inclusion must remain a priority on the global agenda, encouraging Austria to make binding commitments to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not excluded from development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, all initiatives should be designed to be barrier-free.

Moreover, the NGO urged for stronger collaborations with organizations representing individuals with disabilities, such as local blind and deaf associations, in the development of programs, highlighting that Austria is currently far from achieving these goals.

The demands being voiced at the summit often revolve around fundamental survival needs. Individuals with disabilities face significant challenges in humanitarian crises, as 'Licht für die Welt' has pointed out. Key issues include whether deaf individuals receive warnings about impending disasters, how individuals using wheelchairs can evacuate during emergencies, and ensuring equitable distribution of food in refugee camps. The mortality risk for individuals with disabilities in humanitarian situations is reported to be two to four times higher, as barriers to evacuation and access to information and food distribution frequently prevent these individuals from receiving essential assistance.