The Global Disability Summit 2022 (GDS22) in Oslo can result in genuine change for persons with disabilities - globally. To make GDS an game-changer, we need to make use of the coming weeks to raise our voice. Civil Society and Disabled People's Organizations everywhere need to raise their voices and make the summit known. That is why we say that the GDS is happening right here, right now.
The GDS22 will promote actions to increase inclusiveness and equality in line with the principle of leaving no one behind and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We expect the Summit to lead to concrete political commitments that will bring about genuine change for persons with disabilities worldwide, contributing to reduced inequalities, and fostering inclusive development and humanitarian action, guided by a human-rights approach.
Ahead of the GDS, different stakeholders are requested to make commitments reflecting how they are going to change their policy and practice to better respect and implement the CRPD. A menu of 63 suggested commitments was recently published and can be found and signed up to on the GDS website.
As 63 commitments might be too much to ask of decision-makers, it is now time to prioritize and lift the most important commitments when advocating for change.
Anyone wanting to make a commitment can add to or rephrase the suggested commitments as they like. Civil society organizations should read carefully through all the suggested commitments and decide which ones they want to flag to their authorities, ideally together with other disability rights actors in their national contexts.
Governments may not understand the importance of the GDS until civil society places it high on their agenda. The global DPO movement should therefore assume responsibility for raising their government`s awareness of the current human rights situation for persons with disabilities in each country, and based on this, inform the government of which proposed commitments they think will have the most valuable impact in the country.
Best of luck with your advocacy in the weeks to come!
The Atlas Alliance would like to receive updates from the ongoing advocacy experiences around the world – write to us about the preparations for the GDS: atlas@atlas-alliansen.no
And subscribe to our Atlas newsletter to access more information on the GDS in the coming months.