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In continuation of its commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities, and reflecting its ongoing interest in promoting inclusion, the League of Arab States, in coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain, organized a high-level side event during the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP18). The event, titled “Towards the Second World Summit for Social Development: Entrepreneurship and Innovative Finance to Empower Persons with Disabilities and Enhance Social Development Policies”, was held on 12 June 2025 in collaboration with key regional and international partners, including the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the GCC Executive Office, the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Jordan, the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities (AOPD), and UNFPA. It highlighted both the Arab Decade for Persons with Disabilities (2023–2030) and the initiative on independent living, emphasizing the critical role of entrepreneurship and innovative financing in promoting economic empowerment and social inclusion.
The event featured high-level participation from Arab ministers, UN leaders, the Minister for Disabilities of Italy, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy and Government Plenipotentiary for Persons with Disabilities of Poland, and other international experts - demonstrating broad regional and global engagement. It was chaired by Minister Osama bin Saleh Al-Alawi of Bahrain and moderated by Minister Plenipotentiary Tarek Al-Nabulsi.
Key speakers underscored the importance of mainstreaming disability rights within national and regional development agendas. They emphasized the need for inclusive innovation, assistive technologies, and enabling environments that support entrepreneurial ventures led by persons with disabilities. The League of Arab States reaffirmed its dedication to placing disability inclusion at the center of the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, with a focus on independent living, inclusive financing, and sustainable, innovation-driven empowerment models.
The event called for concrete steps to support the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities. Key recommendations included: sharing successful entrepreneurship models across member states; encouraging the League of Arab States to feature these practices within its council structures; ensuring disability inclusion across all thematic areas of the upcoming Doha summit; and strengthening partnerships between the private sector and disability organizations. Participants also agreed on the importance of developing actionable plans and sustaining momentum toward inclusive, rights-based development frameworks for persons with disabilities.
