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The Future Summit – We must continue to defend and strengthen the inclusion of people with disabilities

The leaders adopted the Pact for the Futurewhich includes in annex a Global Digital Compact and one Declaration on future generations. We were concerned that the first version of the Compact for the Future, published in December 2023, made no reference to people with disabilities and very limited reference to inclusive education. A demonstration that recognition of the rights of people with disabilities and disability inclusion cannot be taken for granted, and that civil society must remain vigilant and proactive in its advocacy on this subject.

Aware of this gap, Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International and its partners amplified the concerns of the disability movement, which was very vocal about the lack of representation in the text.

These collective efforts have borne fruit! The final text of the Pact for the Future better reflects our concerns: references to people with disabilities are included throughout the text, and although education does not have its own chapter in the Covenant, it is now integrated into other chapters. Particular attention is paid to persons with disabilities in the context of the protection of civilians in armed conflict, emerging technologies, including assistive technologies, human rights and social inclusion, participation of youth and strengthening the United Nations system.

Stephanie Pena (HI Inclusive Education Policy & Development Lead) participated in the Days of Action, which took place the two days before the Summit. Stephanie reports that while disability inclusion didn’t receive as much prominence and attention as we hoped, it was great to see the representation of people and young people with disabilities throughout the pre-summit, sharing their calls for action to prioritize disability inclusion across all Sustainable Development Goals and future global agendas.

If the Pact for the Future does not bring anything very new to the global agenda, it reaffirms existing commitments, in a context where two thirds of the sustainable development goals will not be achieved by 2030, as promised.

Beyond the final text, we know that the impact of the summit will only be measured in its implementation phase, which will require constant political will and adequate resources (national and international).

The Future Summit marks a turning point. As we enter the final phase of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, it paves the way for discussions about what comes next, with new global targets to be agreed.

“Given the enormous challenges of the moment in which we live, Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International must more than ever continue to defend and strengthen the principle of inclusion in the global political landscape. As always, we stand alongside organizations people with disabilities and other civil society organizations and work with them to ensure that no one is left behind.” Blandine Bouniol, Deputy Director of Humanity & Inclusion/Handicap International for Advocacy

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