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HI participated in the Summit of the Future, 22-23 September, New York. | ©HI
Convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), the Summit of the Future (22-23 September, New York) was a key moment in the 2024 calendar of multilateralism. As world leaders gathered to accelerate efforts on existing international commitments and to respond to new global challenges, disability inclusion was almost left behind.
Leaders at the Summit adopted the Pact for the Future, which includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations as annexes. We were concerned that the first draft of the Pact for the Future, published in December 2023, contained no reference to persons with disabilities and very limited reference to inclusive education. A demonstration that the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities and disability inclusion cannot be taken for granted, and that civil society must still stay vigilant and proactive in its advocacy on this.
Recognizing the gap, Humanity & Inclusion and partners amplified the concerns of the disability movement who has been very vocal about the lack of representation in the text.
These collective efforts paid off! The final text of the Pact for the Future better reflects our concerns: references to persons with disabilities are included throughout the text, and although education does not have its own chapter in the Pact, it is now integrated into other chapters. Specific attention is given to persons with disabilities in the context of the protection of civilians in armed conflict, emerging technology including assistive technology, human rights and social inclusion, youth participation, and strengthening of the UN system.
Stephanie Pena (HI Inclusive Education Policy & Development Lead) attended the Actions Days, which took place on the two days before the Summit. Stephanie reports that while disability inclusion did not receive as much emphasis and attention as we had hoped it would, it was great to see the representation of people and youth with disabilities throughout the Pre Summit, sharing their calls to action to prioritize disability inclusion throughout all SDGs and future global agendas. |
While the Pact for the Future does not add anything very new to the global agenda, it does reaffirm existing commitments, in a context where two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved by 2030, as promised.
Beyond the outcome text, we know that the impact of the Summit will only be measured in its implementation phase, which will require consistent political will and adequate (domestic and international) resources.
The Summit of the Future marks a turning point. As we enter the final phase of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, it paves the way for discussions on what comes after, with new global goals to be agreed.
“Given the enormous challenges of the moment in which we live, more than ever, HI must continue defending and strengthening 'inclusion' in the global political landscape. As always, we stand alongside and collaborate with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and other civil society organisations to ensure that no one is left behind.” Blandine Bouniol, HI Deputy Director for Advocacy |
HI is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
HI is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.