Call for submissions on inclusive development for persons with disabilities and the realisation of their human rights

Background
The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for 2016 will partly be dedicated to the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the UN General Assembly.

The past 71 years of the work of the United Nations has seen an extraordinary advancement for persons with disabilities, in particular in improved international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and also increased inclusion of persons with disabilities as agents and beneficiaries, in transformative efforts toward inclusive society and development. The international commitment to equality, inclusion and empowerment for persons with disabilities in society and development was embodied in the adoption of the World Program of Action (1982), the promotion of the human rights through the Standard Rules (1994), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) and many other international development and human rights instruments.

Today and increasingly, disability issues are at the forefront of the new global development frameworks and efforts, guided by the goals and objectives of the Convention. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development now includes explicit references to disability and we are witnessing the transformation step by step. With support from civil society and disabled people’s organisations, the 2030 Agenda will take concrete forms at the local, national, regional and global levels, with persons with disabilities as agents and beneficiaries of its fruits.

Initiatives and progress have been already in place in many parts of the world where persons with disabilities and their representative organizations are contributing and taking a lead in translating the lofty global commitments into concrete actions on the ground to implement the 2030 Agenda for all including persons with disabilities at all levels.

Call for submissions
Toward this end, the UN Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is asking civil society organizations to provide with written contributions on the above progress made and how you plan to commemorate this year’s IDPD in light of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the CRPD.  In this regard, please send us information on:

(1) a publication; or
(2) important meeting or
(3) technical cooperation project which you organized and led to advance the implementation of the CRPD that fostered equality and the full participation of persons with disabilities in society and development.

Submissions should be sent to Robert Venne (venne@un.org) and not exceed 1,500 words. Your submissions may be published on our web-site, with a view to inform other NGO/DPOs about successful projects and leadership in the advancement of disability issues.

Submissions received to date: