03/12/2024
Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!
The leadership of individuals with disabilities is encapsulated by the powerful slogan of the global disability rights movement: βNothing About Us Without Us.β This phrase signifies the fundamental needs for participation, representation, and inclusion, urging individuals with disabilities to actively influence the circumstances of their own lives.
One of the key priorities within the global disability agenda is to promote the agency and leadership of individuals with disabilities. Over the past few decades, people with disabilities and their organizations (OPDs) have advocated for transformative changes in their communities. They have spearheaded numerous community-led initiatives aimed not only at advancing their own rights and well-being but also at fostering inclusive development. This includes ensuring universal access to essential services for everyone. They have achieved this through a combination of targeted strategies and mainstreaming approaches to disability inclusion, utilizing methods such as consultation, data collection and analysis, and providing support for advocacy and accountability efforts.
The celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (IDPD 2024) occurs amidst significant global events, including the Summit of the Future and the forthcoming Second World Summit for Social Development. These important summits will work in tandem to create an ongoing framework for achieving disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development. By highlighting this synergy, the theme selected for the 2024 observance aims to emphasize the vital role of individuals with disabilities in fostering inclusive and sustainable peace and development for everyone. 2024 Theme: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.