The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation.
The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.
The theme this year is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world“.
The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship, and reducing inequalities in society.
With the aim of promoting empowerment, and helping to create real opportunities for people with disabilities. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in people in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When people are empowered they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, they become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities.
The 2022 global observance to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be around the overarching theme of innovation and transformative solutions for inclusive development, covering in three different interactive dialogues the following thematic topics:
Innovation for disability-inclusive development in employment (SDG8): this dialogue will discuss the linkages between employment, knowledge, and skills required to access employment in an innovative, rapidly changing technological landscape to all and how assistive technologies can increase accessibility to employment and be mainstreamed in the workplace.
Innovation for disability-inclusive development in reducing inequality (SDG10): this dialogue will discuss innovations, practical tools, and good practices to reduce inequalities in both public and private sectors, which are disability-inclusive and interested in promoting diversity in the workplace.
Innovation for disability-inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case: a sector where all of these aspects coalesce; sport as a good practice example and a site of innovation, employment, and equity.