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As the post-2015 development planning is the center of attention in the international development world, it is important to work toward a better future for all and address the gaps in the proposed targets and the situation on the ground, especially for persons with disabilities. As the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs recently stated, “We need to make sure the new development framework would not leave the 1 billion persons with disabilities behind.”
The three-day meeting of the seventh session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was held at UN Headquarters from 10-12 June 2014 and drew high-level participation from States Parties to the Convention, including over 750 participants from Government delegations, representatives of UN agencies, civil society organizations, as well as representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities. The Conference also included over forty parallel events covering various issues related to disability. The Conference is the largest international gathering of disability-related practitioners, professionals and policy-makers.
The Conference discussed the importance of including the needs of persons with disabilities in the post-2015 framework through an expert panel and an interactive dialogue on the implementation of the Convention at national levels, and explored unique challenges facing young people with disabilities.
The inclusion of a disability perspective in the post-2015 development framework was endorsed by many speakers during the Conference. The way forward called for further improvement on disability data collection, analysis and evaluation for policy development, and further strengthening on international and regional cooperation and partnerships for a disability-inclusive post-2015 development agenda.
Participants at the Conference noted that more appropriate legislative, administrative and other measures are much needed for the implementation of the Convention both at international and national levels, as well as strengthening the monitoring mechanisms to evaluate the results and promote change. Furthermore, it was noted that implementation of the Convention requires independent monitoring mechanisms and the full participation and involvement of civil society, persons with disabilities and their respective organizations.
Braam Jordaan from the Youth Section of the World Federation of the Deaf pointed out that effectively addressing the needs of youth with disabilities first requires listening to them and proactively involving them in decision-making processes and relevant policy-development. He also noted that it would open up more opportunities for young people with disabilities, if awareness was raised among youth and society as a whole to address specific issues in areas, including health care, education, poverty, employment, and social inclusion, through international and national cooperation.
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