12 February 2013: The Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) organized a panel discussion to further promote regional and national consultations towards a high-level meeting in September 2013, on disability and development.

The event, titled “Towards a disability-inclusive post-2015 development framework: Regional perspectives,” took place as a side event to the Commission on Social Development (CSocD) at UN Headquarters in New York, US, in February. The panel featured five speakers from the UN regional commissions. Speakers highlighted preparatory efforts towards including disability development in the context of discussions around the post-2015 framework.

These include a UN Secretary-General’s report on progress in implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with regard to people with disabilities. The report highlights four priority areas for a disability-inclusive development agenda: strengthening and applying the international framework on disability; promoting accessibility; developing capacity; and strengthening disability data and statistics.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) agreed in resolution A/RES/67/140, of December 2012, to hold a High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development with the overarching theme, “The way forward: a disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond,” on 23 September 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York. The High-level Meeting, to be organized at Heads of State or Government level, is expected to produce an action-oriented outcome document on disability inclusion.

The SCRPD is located in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). [Report of the Secretary-General] [Side Event Information] [General Assembly Resolution A/RES/67/140] [SCRPD Website]