The Global Disability Summit (GDS) is a unique global mechanism that improves the lives of
persons with disabilities, especially from the Global South. It was created in 2017 to convene
global, regional, and national stakeholders that share the same goal and vision for disability
inclusive development and humanitarian action. The summits aim to bridge the gap between
two arenas that are still separate: disability inclusion and development cooperation. The Global
Disability Summit is a mechanism that goes beyond a two-day summit every three years. It is a
mechanism that entails continuous advocacy with global disability development stakeholders
and mobilization of the disability rights movement and its allies. Importantly, it is a partnership
between member states and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), embodied in
the way that co-hosting arrangements are made.

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We will not only havea sequence of political speeches, that talk “about us”, but rather an exchange between stakeholders including persons with disabilities.
The GDS Secretariat and IDA will implement a global consultation process with the OPDs and other relevant

stakeholders to select priorities to be tackled during the next summit.

Most important for us is that we need to learn directly from and with persons with disabilities, and that we engage with governments, civil society, and the private sector to the benefit of persons with disabilities and their communities.No single actor alone can deliver the needed transformation. Well-structured partnerships and cross-sectorcollaborations are the essential catalysts of change.

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The first Global Disability Summit 2018, co-hosted by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (now FCDO), the Government of Kenya, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), was held in London. It was a major event for disability inclusion with approximately 1.200 delegates, gathering unprecedented attention from leaders and decision makers.

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The second Global Disability Summit 2022, co-hosted by the Governments of Norway and Ghana, together with IDA, was held in Oslo. The summit resulted in even stronger participation from highlevel representatives mainly due to its digital format. Over 7.000 participants attended the virtual summit in February 2022. The third Global Disability Summit 2025 builds upon the achievements of the two previous summits and is cohosted by the Governments of Germany and Jordan, alongside the permanent cohost IDA. The summit is planned as an in-person event (with the possibility for virtual attendance) on 2nd-3rd April 2025 in Berlin.

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Outline for GDS 2025

 

The objective of the next summit is to build and expand the momentum of the previous two GDS, by amplifying its impact in advancing the rights and inclusion of all persons with disabilities through international cooperation. To do this, several key messages have been identified by the co-hosts to determine the most cutting-edge and innovative approach for the GDS 2025:

 

1. Nothing about us without us Persons with disabilities are at the centre of the GDS process and event. The often-quoted phrase “Nothing about us without us” will be translated into concrete action by:

a. Strengthening Organizations of Persons with Disabilities to have a say on the GDS commitments. Commitments will be based on consultations with OPDs, they should respond to the priorities expressed by persons with disabilities.

b. Persons with disabilities will have a stage in Berlin to present their priorities and views directly to the world audience. We will not only have a sequence of political speeches, that talk “about us”, but rather an exchange between stakeholders including persons with disabilities.

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2. Focus on implementation GDS 2025 will be an eye-opener for decision-makers by displaying in a creative and surprising manner: a. smart, inspiring best practices that can easily be adopted and scaled up; as well as b. the reality of discrimination and deprivation of human rights and the consequences this has for the life and rights of more than one billion human beings.

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3. Focus on rights GDS 2025 will make clear that the ongoing discrimination of persons with disabilities is a violation of human rights that State Parties are obliged to respect, promote, and fulfil. It will do so by systematically taking the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) – its content and the identified gaps of its implementation – as the starting point for all processes and discussions in the GDS context. 

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4. National Ownership The Articles of the UN CRPD will only be truly fulfilled if all countries take responsibility for the issue of disability inclusion. The idea being that sustainable success will only be achieved if countries adopt a serious approach and make disability rights a political priority. In this regard the emphasis should be on the necessity that:

a. the problem is understood at all political levels;

b. state entities are given the necessary mandate and resources;

c. cross-cutting and mainstreamed national plans are made to address the challenges, including legislation and financial commitments; d. OPDs are meaningfully and systematically included in all decision-making processes.

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5. Disability inclusive development GDS 2025 will bridge the gap between two arenas that are still separate: disability inclusion and development cooperation. It will do so by:

a. Adopting a closing document that highlights the importance of development cooperation and humanitarian action according to Art. 32 and Art. 11 of the UN CRPD and that spells out in concrete terms the obligations this entails for mainstreaming the convention in every aspect of development cooperation and humanitarian action.

b. Ensuring that disability inclusion will be adequately considered for the current and post-2030-Agenda discussion.

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6. Bridging the gap GDS 2025 will bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots by: a. Promoting commitments that foster international cooperation. If a state needs support for the implementation of the UN CRPD, the GDS mechanism aims to bring stakeholders together and facilitate development cooperation in this area. b. Pointing out the funding gaps. The available funds dedicated for fighting against discrimination based on disabilities represent a tiny share of those means available for fighting against discrimination based on other criteria (such as gender or age). The GDS will therefore make it clear that existing development funds need to be mainstreamed in the sense of the UN CRPD and that additional, specific funding is needed.

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​7. Focus on data and evidence To change the living conditions of persons with disabilities and foster their full participation, data disaggregated by disabilities is a prerequisite. It is necessary to foster a disability-inclusive development culture where we learn from each other and use evidence for our interventions. For this, we need good practices and data from persons with disabilities. To focus on impact, evidence and learning requires a proper analysis of the gaps in implementing the UN CRPD in the global South, and how to address them. We need to know where investment in disability inclusion is needed most urgently. This analysis will come from a Global Disability Inclusion Report (which is currently being prepared by IDA and UNICEF in cooperation with a consortium and with funding from Germany) and the Disability Data Hub that the World Bank will launch at the GDS 2025. With these tools, inequalities, and discrimination as well as the needs of persons with disabilities will be more visible and adequate disability-inclusive policies can be developed.