Advancing Disability Inclusion: A Cornerstone of Social Progress in the UN System

Six years after the launch of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), the Organization has made meaningful strides toward realizing the vision of a truly inclusive UN, one that reflects and promotes the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in every aspect of its work. Anchored in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Strategy has served as the blueprint for embedding inclusion into leadership, planning, programming, and organizational culture across the UN system.  

According to the 2025 report of the Secretary-General (A/80/361), disability inclusion is now integrated into nearly all UN operations and high-level decision-making processes. Eighty-five UN entities and 132 country teams reported annually on progress, showing steady improvements in leadership commitment, accessibility, and inclusive programming. More than half of UN entities have adopted disability-specific policies or strategies, and the number of country teams embedding inclusion in their cooperation frameworks has doubled since 2020.  

This progress reflects a shift in mindset, from viewing persons with disabilities solely as beneficiaries to recognizing them as leaders, experts, and change agents. Their lived experience and innovation have helped shape policies that leave no one behind and have strengthened the credibility of the United Nations as an advocate for equality and human rights. 

Yet, the report also highlights persistent gaps. Accessibility and employment remain the most challenging areas. Only a small proportion of UN entities have achieved full accessibility in their facilities or digital platforms, and persons with disabilities continue to be underrepresented in the UN workforce. Many initiatives, while promising, remain project-based rather than system-wide, underscoring the need for stronger institutionalization and sustainable resources. 

The Strategy’s next phase aims to scale up progress through concrete measures: investing in accessibility, ensuring systematic consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities, embedding inclusion across recruitment and career development, improving data collection, and establishing a permanent coordination mechanism. These efforts are essential not only for internal reform but also for strengthening the UN’s capacity to support Member States in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

Disability inclusion is integral to social progress. A society that excludes persons with disabilities cannot claim to be inclusive or sustainable. The Strategy’s achievements mirror the broader objectives of the Summit: eradicating poverty, expanding access to decent work, and building societies rooted in dignity, equality, and opportunity for all. By embedding disability inclusion into its structures and culture, the United Nations leads by example, demonstrating that true social progress depends on ensuring that everyone can participate, contribute, and thrive. As Member States gather in Doha for the Second World Summit for Social Development, to chart the way forward for inclusive development, the UN’s experience offers a powerful reminder: an inclusive United Nations is essential for an inclusive world. 

To learn more, read the full report here.