Despite recording efforts to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Member States’ national plans and policies, the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) also shed to light challenges in fully implementing the Agenda 2030.

In the period 2016–2019, 158 voluntary national reviews were presented at the high-level political forum on sustainable development by 143 countries, over two-thirds of which included references to ageing.

Persons with disabilities remain less likely to attend school and complete primary education and more likely to be illiterate than persons without disabilities. Available data reveals that, on average, one in three children with disabilities of primary school age is out of school, compared with one in seven children without disabilities. Primary school completion is also lower for children with disabilities.

The Report of the Secretary-General to the 58th session of the Commission for Social Development in 2020  provides an overview of the modalities for the fourth review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The occurrence and duration of emergencies, whether humanmade or natural disasters, have increased in the past years. Between 2008 and 2018 the number of crises receiving an international response grew from 12 to 22, and their average duration rose from 6 to 9 years.

The capacity of individuals to respond to emergencies and effectively access mitigation, adaptation and relief resources is determined by their individual and social characteristics, including age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic factors and health status, among others.

In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution A/71/321, the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) of UNDESA is conducting a survey in order to seek the input from Indigenous Peoples for the preparation of the report of the Secretary-General on achievements, analysis and concrete recommendations on the possible further measures necessary to enable the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them.

Member States today took note with appreciation of the 2018 UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development through two resolutions adopted in the General Assembly.

Persons with disabilities have equal needs to access sexual and reproductive health-care services as those without disabilities and have similar requirements for family planning and childbirth. However, misperceptions about persons with disabilities and the assumption that persons with disabilities are not sexually active has contributed to little attention being paid to ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to sexual and reproductive health-care services.

The Doha International Conference on Disability and Development was held on 7-8 December 2019, under the guidance and patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Founder of Qatar Foundation for Social Work and its affiliated civil society centers.

The conference's landmark outcome - the Doha Declaration - forms a core reference point internationally for policy development about human rights and sustainable development in the context of disability.

Speakers in yesterday’s launch of the observance of the 2019 International Day of Persons with Disabilities - held at United Nations Headquarters in New York - stressed that the voices of persons with disabilities serve to make society more inclusive and sustainable and are essential to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event was hosted by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

On 17 December, the President of the 74th session of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande convened a High-level event for the closing of the 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, in line with 2018 General Assembly resolution 73/156.

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