Sustainable development goals could signal a sea change for disabled people
|
Version 0 of 1. The UN headquarters in New York is not best known as a cradle of revolution. But this month, the summit at which the new development agenda will be adopted might just signal the start of something revolutionary. People with disabilities – the “largest minority”, and a key target group in efforts to eradicate extreme poverty – are explicitly mentioned in the agenda.Of the 19 civil society representatives invited to speak by the president of the general assembly, two will be people with disabilities, representing the global disability movement. Related: In Cameroon, a school helps to integrate disabled children into society | Marta Arias This should come as no surprise. Why, after all, would one-seventh of the world’s population be excluded? But in 2000, when the millennium development goals (MDGs) were established, this level of representation was unimaginable. The MDGs were silent on disability. As a result, while extreme poverty fell sharply, primary school enrolment climbed, and millions of infant deaths were averted, people with disabilities were left behind. That’s why the historic commitments on disability contained in the sustainable development goals (SDGs) are so important. As well as its rallying cry that “no one must be left behind”, the SDG outcome document acknowledges that more than 80% of people with disabilities live in poverty. It explicitly refers to disability in many key targets and, crucially, it undertakes that data should be disaggregated, to ensure the goals are met “for all segments of society”. Global thinking on disability and development has come a long way since the millennium declaration 15 years ago. But will the SDGs live up to their revolutionary potential? Much will depend on whether three key trends gain momentum over the next 15 years. In March 2016, the SDGs will face their first crucial test when the UN unveils the statistical framework used to measure progress against the goals. Early signs aren’t good: despite the SDG outcome document’s strong ambitions, the most recent proposal from the UN Statistical Commission makes data disaggregation by disability the exception, not the norm. How can we make sure that no one is left behind if we don’t disaggregate data? Internationally comparable methodologies for disability measurement now exist and are gaining traction with governments and donors worldwide. If the next statistical framework is to avoid repeating the mistakes of the MDGs, it will be essential to use these methods to ensure people with disabilities are visible across the SDG agenda. Realising the ambitions behind the SDGs will also entail the full inclusion of disability in government policies and budgets, in line with the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Not only is inclusion a fundamental human rights issue, it is also in everybody’s interests: a pilot study by the International Labour Organisation estimated that if people with disabilities had equal access to employment, some low- and middle-income countries’ gross domestic product could increase by up to 7%. We have already seen promising examples of more inclusive development policies in countries where the disability movement is active – from the Tanzanian government’s national strategy on inclusive education to the recent disability framework from Britain’s Department for International Development. Some disabled people’s groups are also working to ensure compulsory earmarking: dedicating a proportion of each ministry and public body’s budget to accessibility and the inclusion of people with disabilities. The third key trend, and one of the most positive elements of the SDG process, has been the space for meaningful input by people with disabilities, from the early consultations by the UN high-level panel onwards. As the world’s attention shifts to the implementation of the goals, it is crucial to empower people with disabilities to plan, implement and monitor development programmes. It will be particularly important to ensure that information is fully accessible, and to use approaches such as participatory research to reach out to those who are most marginalised – including people experiencing exclusion due to disability and other factors such as gender, sexual orientation, age and location. It is also imperative to engage with young people with disabilities, given that the world now has the largest youth population in its history. Empowerment has obvious benefits in ensuring that programmes reflect disabled people’s experience – but, just as important, it is an essential way to challenge historic power imbalances between those with and without disabilities. In that respect, the greater prominence of disabled people at the forthcoming summit is encouraging. Now everyone involved in international development – from statisticians to policymakers to civil society – must deliver on the goals’ revolutionary promise. Our vision for 2030 is of a world where no groups are less equal than others. |