Disability Linked to U.N.’s Development Agenda

By Aarthi Gunnupuri Reprint | | Print |

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 23 2013 (IPS) - Despite its well-intentioned fight against global poverty, the U.N.’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  marginalizes  persons with disabilities.

As a result,  the challenges faced by over one billion individuals with disabilities, including the lack of access to education, employment and other resources, remain out of focus on the world stage.

However, the adoption in 2006 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=150) , which links disabilities to human rights and a more inclusive development agenda, offered hope to many concerned with the issue. A high-level meeting at the Generally Assembly Monday witnessed the release of an ‘outcome document’ (http://www.un.org/disabilities/documents/hlmdd/a_68_l.1.doc) which affirms the commitment of the participating nations towards the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2015 development agenda.

Musician Stevie Wonder,  the current U.N.  Messenger of Peace who campaigns for greater awareness on disabilities, congratulated Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for making the rights of individuals with disabilities a priority among the many other issues that currently affect the world. As reflected in the 68th General Assembly schedule, discussions among world leaders this year include complex issues such as nuclear disarmament and sustainable development.

At the press conference, Wonder was joined by Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes, Chair of the Committee of Rights of Person with Disabilities and Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, Permanent Representative of the Philippines. Describing the adoption of an agreed outcome by the General Assembly as “a great historical moment”,  Reyes emphasised the additional risks faced by persons with disabilities during times of crisis such as natural disasters and conflicts, and also by disabled persons in indigenous communities and other disabled individuals such as women and children.
A career diplomat,  Cabactulan, highlighted the power of diplomacy in “making things possible”, and alluded to the intense behind-the-scenes negotiations and discussions that led to the outcome of the General Assembly meeting on disabilities. However, he pointed out that countries worldwide  had to continue to focus on the issue and that there was still a long way to go in ensuring greater inclusion.

.Wonder emphasised the same in his statement:  “I am celebrating in my heart, but I am looking forward to the victory, to the home-run, to the conclusion, where every single person throughout the world can live their lives independently knowing that the world is accessible to everyone.”