Global Disability Summit Urges Action on Stark Inequalities for People with Disabilities

World leaders in Berlin emphasize inclusion and commit to addressing critical gaps in rights, resources, and life expectancy highlighted by a UNICEF study.

The Global Disability Summit in Berlin, co-hosted by Germany, Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance, seeks to advance the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
A UNICEF-coordinated study reveals that people with disabilities have a global average life expectancy 14 years shorter than those without disabilities, with disparities reaching 23 years in the poorest countries.
Only 11% of people with disabilities in the poorest nations have access to essential assistive devices, compared to 88% in the wealthiest countries, underscoring severe global inequities.
The summit aims to secure commitments to include disability considerations in at least 15% of international development projects, with the Amman-Berlin Declaration set to formalize these goals.
Speeches by Olaf Scholz and King Abdullah II highlighted the systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities in education, employment, and healthcare, as well as their heightened vulnerabilities in crises and conflicts.