Over one billion people – about 15% of the global population – live with some form of disability and this number is growing because of population increases, ageing, rise of noncommunicable diseases, and medical advances.
The recently endorsed WHA Resolution on the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities requests collaboration between states, international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, including intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, private sector companies, academia, and organizations of persons with disabilities to work together toward strengthening disability inclusion across the wider health sector and in national health agendas.
To advance this agenda, WHO is organizing a side event during the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The conference is an annual event since 2008, organized by the United Nations to discuss any matter with regard to the implementation of the CRPD in countries.
The WHO side event, co-hosted by the International Disability Alliance will seek to:
- Highlight strategic directions to disability inclusion in the wider health sector, including in health systems strengthening, health emergencies, and cross-sectoral public health actions.
- Engage states, UN agencies and civil society in dialogue on the entry points to strengthening disability inclusion in national health agendas.
- Share information about forthcoming initiatives for multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance the rights of persons with disabilities to the highest attainable standard of health.
The virtual event will take place on 18 June 2021 at 14.30-15.45 CET.