On November 13th, 2024, the Multi-Regional Global Disability Pre-Summit 2024 commenced in Amman, Jordan, under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mired, President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD). Co-hosted by the HCD, the German government, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the two-day event served as a pivotal preparatory activity for the Global Disability Summit (GDS), scheduled for April 2025 in Berlin.
Bringing together ministers, ambassadors, international organisations, civil society institutions, academics, disability rights activists, and representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) across the Middle East, North Africa, Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the conference highlighted the shared commitment to advancing disability rights and inclusion.
The conference featured panel discussions aimed at aligning regional perspectives and commitments for the GDS. Some of the key panel discussions included:
Inclusive Financing and International Cooperation
One panel discussion highlighted inclusive financing as a key priority, emphasising the importance of creating and implementing inclusive budgets. from institutions such as UN Women, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the Christian Blind Mission discussed how inclusive budgets must match policies, promote dignity, and address the diverse needs of persons with disabilities. These budgets should integrate human-centred approaches, addressing disability-specific issues such as access to assistive technologies and inclusive education.
Gender equality was also a focal point, with discussions on how inclusive budgeting can tackle the compounded challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities. The role of the Amman-Berlin Declaration was stressed as a global milestone in promoting inclusive financing mechanisms for persons with disabilities.
Independent Living
Another panel discussion focused on independent living, a cornerstone theme of the GDS2025. Speakers from institutions such as the United Nations Committee for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lumos Foundation, and multiple country ministries, emphasised the critical need to align policies with the guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) to ensure that persons with disabilities can live autonomously and fully participate in society. Achieving independence for persons with disabilities is not an abstract ideal, it is an urgent necessity, further made worse by ongoing climate and political challenges. These challenges disproportionately impact persons with disabilities, who often face greater vulnerabilities during environmental disasters, forced displacements, and socio-economic disruptions, making independent living solutions even more critical and time-sensitive.
Moldova’s success in deinstitutionalisation was highlighted as a best-practice example, demonstrating tangible steps toward empowering individuals with disabilities to live independently within their communities. Panellists underscored the importance of establishing steering committees at multiple levels—community, national, regional, and institutional—to effectively coordinate efforts and ensure inclusivity. This collaborative approach requires active engagement from all stakeholders, including government bodies, civil society, and organisations of persons with disabilities, to drive sustainable progress.
Social Protection and Other Key Topics
The second day of the conference opened with a discussion on social protection. Dr Stephen Kidd, Social Protection Specialist at Development Pathways, highlighted the disparities in social protection systems across the MENA region, where fewer than 10% of persons with severe disabilities receive benefits in some countries. Dr Kidd championed universal disability benefits as a critical tool for reducing poverty and discrimination.
The remainder of the session emphasised how social protection systems could support independent living by providing financial and social resources. Dr Kidd noted that 21 million children with disabilities in the MENA region lack access to basic services and social protection. In contrast, only 17 per cent of persons with disabilities across the region receive benefits. These sobering numbers reveal an urgent need to introduce more comprehensive support for persons with disabilities in the region.
Another panel discussion addressed humanitarian crises and conflicts, and the distinct challenges they pose to persons with disabilities. The discussion specifically wrestled with the considerations that need to be made during armed conflict, especially as it leads to increased displacement and exacerbates the vulnerability of persons with disabilities.
Looking Ahead
The Multi-Regional Pre-Summit set the stage for meaningful commitments at the GDS2025. The conference reaffirmed the global community’s dedication to advancing equality and dignity for persons with disabilities.