1 April 2025 | Berlin, Germany
https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org/media-center/press-release-civil-...
The Civil Society Forum (CSF) convened today ahead of the Global Disability Summit (GDS), bringing together more than 500 representatives from Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), civil society organizations, and disability advocates. This one-day forum provided a space for OPDs to highlight challenges, propose solutions, and ensure that persons with disabilities remain central to shaping global development and humanitarian agendas
Reflecting on the recent developments in the international aid sector, Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) commented, “As much as today is a day of celebration it is also a day to remind ourselves that we face unprecedented challenges. It is not a time for silence – but time to raise our voices.”
Discussions covered disability inclusion in humanitarian response, the rights of children and adolescents with disabilities, the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities, and the impact of declining international aid on disability rights.
The forum concluded with the adoption of the Civil Society Declaration, which raised urgent concerns about shrinking civic space, severe cuts to international aid, and the de-funding of humanitarian action. It warned that without immediate action, persons with disabilities risk being pushed further to the margins. The declaration called for disability-inclusive financing with clear budget lines, stronger accountability mechanisms, and an end to tokenistic consultation, urging governments to establish structural partnerships with disability-led organizations. It also underscored the disproportionate impact of climate change, conflict, and displacement on persons with disabilities, demanding inclusive policies in response.
In the closing ceremony, Sanja Tarczay, President, World Federation of the Deaf Blind (WFDB) highlighted that “international cooperation must shift from “doing for” to “doing with”—with OPDs in the lead… Disability inclusion cannot be treated as aspirational; it must be measurable, traceable, and enforceable.”
With these challenges, the Global Disability Summit 2025 presents an opportunity for urgent action to ensure that no one is left behind. Co-hosted by the Governments of Germany and Jordan alongside the International Disability Alliance, the summit will take place on April 2-3, 2025, bringing together more than 3,000 global leaders, policymakers, and advocates to advance commitments on disability inclusion.
For inquiries, contact:
Chandni Ahuja (cahuja@ida-secretariat.org) and Nitya Agarwal (nagarwal@ida-secretariat.org)
