The Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2022 is a global event created to shed light on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in development and humanitarian aid, and decide on a way forward towards more inclusive aid.
The first GDS was held in London in 2018 and was a milestone for the disability movement. The second GDS will be online and take place in February 2022. Anyone anywhere can follow the upcoming GDS, by a link which will be shared on this website soon.
Time for GDS 2022
The overarching vision of the GDS 2022 is “Promoting Equality”. February 14th is the first day and will gather global youth with disabilities and their representative organisations. February 15th is the meeting for global Civil Society Organisations - the GDS Civil Society Forum. The main GDS top level meeting is on 16-17 February 2022. (Les mer her).
The main outcome of GDS
The four days of GDS in February 2022 will conclude with a declaration on how to work together from here to achieve our common goals. A main outcome of the GDS is also to allow Governments and stakeholders to make commitments to change their policies in given thematic areas, namely: Health, Education, Livelihoods / Employment, Engaging Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and Inclusion in Crisis and Conflict.
From London to Oslo
The Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2022 is hosted by the Government of Norway and the International Disability Alliance (IDA). The Atlas Alliance, and Norwegian and Global Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are actively supporting the preparations and mobilizing work. Several Southern OPDs have already given input on their experience from the GDS in London 2018 and their thoughts about the online GDS 2022. More consultations will take place between now and the GDS in February to ensure the priorities are set by persons with disabilities themselves – in the Global South.
The convention
The GDS in February is important in itself, but even more crucial is the time between now and then. This is the time to increase awareness about the lives of persons living with disabilities, and the UN convention created to protect them. The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been signed by 184 countries. This is the time to take stock of how the countries are doing, encourage the remaining ones to ratify, and help the governments get the priorities straight.
Time is now!
National campaigns on social media or through any effective channel, can make a huge difference. Not everybody knows that persons with disabilities is the single largest minority in the world, with its roughly 1 billion people. Not everybody knows that 80 % live in the global south and that they often face stigma and barriers that make their participation and valuable contributions to society impossible. Civil society can help increase knowledge. Civil society need also follow the commitments given at the GDS in order to remind and support their authorities in putting words into action. Time’s now!