Welcome to the United Nations
The 2030 Agenda calls upon us to leave no one behind. This principle is rarely as prominent as it is with persons with disabilities. They are often forgotten among other priorities that shadow their needs, forcing them to live in a world not built for them. Inclusive and accessible urban development is the key to changing the built environment and drastically improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
On 14 June, 2017 at the United Nations Secretariat, UNDESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development hosted a forum titled ‘Advancing Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development’ as a part of the 10th Conference of State Parties. Here, experts in the field of urban development discussed the necessity of accessible cities, and their place in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They stressed that accessibility is critical for people with disabilities to participate and live equally in society.
Many of the experts argued that universally inclusive urban design benefits everyone and must be prioritized along with efficiency and safety. For those who are temporarily encumbered or injured, or those who develop a disability early or later in life, everyone is affected. It was thus recommended that states develop policies that ensure inclusive development, as well as encourage the private sector to investment more in accessibility.
Tourism has the potential to be a major driver for inclusive urban development. It is one of the biggest and fastest growing sectors, with 1.2 billion people participating in tourism at present, and 1.8 billion expected by 2030. As cities adapt to accommodate more tourists they must do so in a way that does not exclude people with disabilities. This also includes accessible transportation and accommodation, as you cannot have one without the other.
The European Commission (EC) conducted a study that demonstrated the benefits of investing in inclusive urban development. The research revealed that 55% of companies that provided accessible goods and services had increased their clientele and 40% had increased their financial benefits. The EC also showed that 94% of people agree that more money should be spent on the elimination of urban physical obstacles, and nearly 70% of people would buy or pay more for accessibility.
The experts agreed that developing cities to be accessible for everyone will create more opportunities, open participation, and build inclusive communities, which would be taking great strides within the 2030 Agenda and towards achieving the SDGs.