1 December 2025 – The Second World Summit for Social Development which concluded last month in Doha, was designed with inclusion at its core. Ahead of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, the team in UN DESA’s Division for Inclusive Social Development, shared how the Social Summit helped advance the rights of persons with disabilities.
What does the Doha Political Declaration mean for persons with disabilities?
“The Doha Political Declaration, adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development, reinforces that social development cannot be achieved unless persons with disabilities enjoy their full rights, participate meaningfully in decision-making, and have equitable access to opportunities. For persons with disabilities, the Declaration represents a renewed global consensus that their inclusion is integral to poverty eradication, decent work for all, and social integration.
It affirms the commitment of Member States to implement disability-inclusive, accessible and rights-based policies, and ensure accessible services, technologies, and environments, in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Most importantly, the Declaration emphasizes measurable action, shifting from broad aspiration to concrete commitments that improve everyday lives. For instance, the Declaration calls for social protection schemes that are equally accessible for persons with disabilities and that address additional disability-related costs, like costs of assistive technology or health care, that often push persons with disabilities into poverty.”
How were persons with disabilities placed at the centre of determining their rights and future?
“The Summit was designed with inclusion at its core.
On the substantive side, persons with disabilities participated in the lead-up to the Summit and across the official and parallel programme, ensuring that disability-inclusive development is treated not as a standalone issue, but as a cross-cutting priority for all social development efforts. Organizations representing persons with disabilities were actively involved in shaping solutions, spotlighting barriers, and proposing innovations.
On the operational side, accessibility was mainstreamed throughout the Summit: international sign language interpretation, closed captioning, and accessible communication ensured that persons with disabilities could follow and contribute to the dialogue.”
What will be the focus of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities?
“This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities will focus on “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress.” The theme reflects the vision of the Doha Political Declaration and builds on the momentum generated by the Second World Summit for Social Development.
The commemoration will highlight how disability inclusion is essential to achieving the Summit’s core objectives, poverty eradication, decent work for all, and social integration, and will discuss next steps and urgent actions needed to implement the Summit’s commitments and achieve disability inclusive development.
For more information: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)