9 July 2013: The draft outcome document of the High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development (HLMDD) has been circulated to UN Member States, calling on the international community to give due consideration to all persons with disabilities in the emerging post-2015 development agenda.

In a letter of 5 July 2013, Libran N. Cabactulan, Permanent Representative of the Philippines, and Fernando Arias González, Permanent Representative of Spain, note that the draft is the outcome of consultations since 2012 culminating in “intensive” negotiations in the prior two weeks, and other inputs, and seek approval of the text as the proposed outcome from the HLMDD, which is to take place on 23 September 2012, as a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The draft document is approximately three pages long, and includes sections on: Values and Principles; Realizing the Development Goals for persons with disabilities towards 2015 and beyond; and Follow up of the Outcome Document of the HLM on Disability and Development: “The Way Forward, a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond.” The latter heading is marked ‘agreed.’

The document recognizes persons with disabilities as both agents and beneficiaries of development, and proposes to: encourage the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); ensure that development policies consider disability issues, including violence and discrimination; and enact, amend or enforce national legislation on inclusion of persons with disabilities where needed.

It also suggests making primary education available for children with disabilities; promoting the availability of healthcare; strengthening social protection for meeting disability-related needs; promoting access to full and productive employment and decent work; and ensuring accessibility through ICTs and assistive devices. The draft further proposes improving disability data collection and analysis, including data disaggregated by sex and age, and addressing the rights and needs of women and children with disabilities, among other points.

Support for the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Multi-Donor Trust Fund is mentioned in relation to voluntary contributions.

The sources of input for the draft outcome document, which include the series of intergovernmental consultations led by Cabactulan and Arias González, are listed on the UN’s “Enable” website. [Letter circulating draft outcome document] [Enable Webpage]