This marks the recent adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of these goals "in building a more inclusive and equitable world for persons with disabilities". The UN state that this year's objectives include assessing the current status and foundation for a future of "greater inclusion for persons with disabilities".
The message this year from the United Nations General Secretary, Ban Ki Moon, states that the SDG's is based on a pledge that no one is left behind. Achieving this requires the full inclusion and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society development. So what does this mean for us and how can we play a role?
1. Support charities with specific development targets and indicators which assist disabled people.
Development policy should be inclusive this means including disabled people with development discourse and policy. If you decide to donate to a charity try to investigate if the policy is inclusive of disabled people. Far too often disabled people are neglected from development programmes and are overlooked.
If we all called for inclusive development policy then perhaps we can make it towards the UN's goal for 2030 and nobody will be left behind.
2. Ensure access to al mainstream services
For us to meet the SDG in 2030 every global citizen needs to help bring changes to laws, policies and institutions and society to ensure that disabled people have access to all mainstream education, health, employment, transportation, information/communication and social services equally with dignity.
3. Empower women and girls with disabilities
Women and girls are facing double discrimination and this needs to end. Empowering women and girls with information about their rights and how they can claim them are essential for development. They must have access to the legal system and have equal rights to hold property and inherit. We must keep campaigning and working together to ensure women are included, every step of the way.
4. Employment
To be an inclusive society, we must promote the employment of disabled people within in all sectors and support entrepreneurship development. The development sector hand in hand with governments should support necessary development initiatives for people with disabilities aimed at overcoming barriers they face in seeking employment, including vocational training.
5. Health and rehabilitation
We need to ensure all disabled people have access to health and rehabilitation services that respect their physical and mental integrity and dignity. This includes providing information, services and counselling on sexual and reproductive health issues.
On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we need to urge national and local governments, businesses and everyone in society to maintain efforts to end discrimination against disabled people. By working together, raising awareness and campaigning together we can achieve an inclusive society where no one is left behind.
This week campaign is dedicated to the children at Thuy An Centre, Viet Nam and the boys at Home of Hope, Cambodia.
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