Disability General Assembly

The present report is submitted pursuant to resolution 76/154, in which the General Assembly requested that the Secretary-General submit to it a progress report on steps taken by the United Nations system towards mainstreaming disability inclusion, including implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy.

The report outlines the progress made in 2021, on the basis of an analysis of submissions by United Nations entities and country teams reporting under the Strategy’s accountability framework. The report reflects on opportunities and challenges facing the Organization in relation to disability inclusion, including in the context of humanitarian crises and of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recovery.

In the present report the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Gerard Quinn, examines the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of military operations. The report focuses on the implementation and application of obligations under international humanitarian law towards persons with disabilities during the conduct of hostilities.

In response to General Assembly resolution 75/154, the present report addresses the situation of persons with disabilities and inclusive development, including in the context of the ongoing efforts by the international community to advance disability inclusion in the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and to build back better toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world. Building on the previous report (A/75/187), the present report provides a summary of available information on such efforts and initiatives by Member States, United Nations entities and civil society organizations, as well as other relevant stakeholders. It concludes with recommendations for action to further promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The report provides an overview of the situation of persons with disabilities, including in the light of the global response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, recovery and building back better towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world. The adverse impact of the COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion experienced by persons with disabilities and the imperative that the disability inclusion should be an integral part of crisis response, recovery and building back better.

In the report, the Secretary-General reflects on progress made by Member States, the United Nations system and other stakeholders in implementing and monitoring the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for persons with disabilities. He further discusses opportunities and challenges in advancing towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals for all, including persons with disabilities, and concludes with policy recommendations to further accelerate progress in realizing the 2030 Agenda by, for and with persons with disabilities.