Disabled people: An investment in a common future

Most of us, most of the time tend to have a negative picture of disabled people. This is not correct but it is common tendency. In the recent decades, with the evolution of information and communication technology and incredibly creative areas such as artificial intelligence, many countries have found ways of turning disabled or differently abled people into doing marvelous things in various fields. The richer and more powerful people need to take the initiative to draw out the best from differently abled people, make them happy and productive while also building a just and fair society. In many countries, various groups have taken wonderful initiatives and Sri Lanka also needs to do the same with its differently abled people.

These and similar reflections come to mind when the United Nations early this month marked the International Day of people with disabilities with the theme highlighting the Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and 
equitable world. 

In a statement, the UN says Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind. The commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment in a common future.

The complex and interconnected crises facing humanity today, including the shocks resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other countries, a tipping point in climate change, all pose humanitarian challenges of an unprecedented nature, and threats to the global economy.

Most often, in moments of crisis, people in vulnerable situations such as people with disabilities are the most excluded and left behind. In line with the central premise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind”, it is crucial for governments, public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions for and with people with disabilities to make the world a more accessible and equitable place.

Explaining the disability inclusion strategy the UN says when launching the United Nations disability inclusion strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion—across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.  

The disability inclusion strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In October 2021, the Secretary-General submitted his second report on steps taken by the UN system to implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2020.  Given the impact of the COVID-19 on people with disabilities, the report also contains a brief reflection on disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery. 

The 2022 global observance to commemorate the International Day of People with Disabilities will be around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics: Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment : Linkages between employment, knowledge and skills required to access employment in an innovative, rapidly changing technological landscape to all; Innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality : Innovations, practical tools and good practices to reduce inequalities in both public and private sectors, which are disability inclusive and interested in promoting diversity in the workplace; Innovation for disability inclusive development: Sport as an exemplar case: a sector where all of these aspects coalesce; sport as a good practice example and a site of innovation, employment and equity. 

Famous people have spotlighted the need to improve the world by the transformative work of disabled people. English philosopher and statesman Francis Bacon has said we rise to great heights by a winding staircase of small steps while Confucius, the Chinese philosopher who is considered the paragon of Chinese sages point out that it does not matter how slowly one goes as long as you does not stop.