Welcome to the United Nations
The Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD) of DESA will coorganize with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) in Beirut, Lebanon, an Expert Group Meeting under the theme “Disability and development: operationalizing the post-2015 development agenda for persons with disabilities” from 11-13 May 2015.
As the post-2015 development agenda is being finalized, the global community needs to establish strategies and mechanisms for the implementation of the agenda. In the design of strategies for disability-inclusive implementation, lessons from past experiences in the mainstreaming of disability need to be drawn on and existing mechanisms reviewed to identify persistent gaps and barriers to effective implementation.
This Expert Group Meeting will convene to take stock of recent progress; review lessons learned from field experiences in the implementation of disability-inclusive programmes; and discuss options for and strategies to operationalize the post-2015 agenda. The Meeting is expected to result in a set of practical recommendations for disability-inclusive implementation of the post-2015 framework, including a ‘road map’ for planning, monitoring and evaluation of plans, programmes and policies to achieve development goals for persons with disabilities. The Meeting is also expected to contribute towards the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the outcome document of the General Assembly High Level Meeting on Disability and Development held on 23 September 2013 which stressed the urgent need to translate international commitments and development goals into concrete, practical actions and results.
The Meeting will invite, in their individual capacity, experts from the region and around the world including those with experiences in: disability, social and economic development, and research. The meeting will incorporate a regional perspective through contributions from experts in the Arab region. The recommendations from the meeting will serve as inputs to global efforts in support of disability-inclusive implementation of the post-2015 agenda, including by the United Nations system and national governments.
