Published on 16 December 2024

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Over 1 billion people worldwide - 16% of the global population - live with disabilities, with 80% residing in developing countries. They are often among the most marginalised, facing significant barriers to education, employment, and healthcare. SDC works to ensure their inclusion in international cooperation, promoting equal opportunities and reducing inequalities. By addressing these challenges, SDC contributes to sustainable development and resilient societies where no one is left behind.

An older man with one leg, supported by crutches, standing in front of a house surrounded by three children of different ages. — © UNICEF Zambia / Jason J Mulikita Photography

Swiss Frameworks on Disability Inclusive Development

SDC reaffirms its commitment to disability inclusive development programming

It is estimated that 1.3 billion people (link) in the world currently experience significant disability. This is equivalent to about 16% of the global population.
The Sustainable Development Agenda (link) is designed around leaving no one behind. If the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are to be achieved, people with disabilities must be included. Disability is specifically referenced in various parts of the SDG framework in relation to education, growth and employment, inequality, and accessibility, as well as featuring in indicators to allow monitoring of the SDGs.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (link) which was agreed in 2006 and ratified by Switzerland in 2014, adopts a broad categorisation disability, reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It reasserts that people with disabilities must not face discrimination, must be given the opportunity to participate in society, and that they must be fully and effectively included.

A young man dressed in traditional costume plays the piano on a dimly lit stage. — © Association Ibsar

Disability inclusive SDC programmes

From across the SDC portfolio there are many examples of where disability inclusion has been successfully integrated into broader development programmes. SDC works with local partners including organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to improve disability inclusive development programming.

For example, in Tunisia SDC has been working with UN Volunteers on the the ‹One Life› project to develop volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities within the UN system.
Meanwhile, in Serbia SDC has partnered with the Association of Roma Society Zaječar and the Centre for Social Welfare Zaječar to deliver a project that supports Roma children living in rural areas in terms of health and wellbeing.
In Moldova, SDC has partnered with the Alliance of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities from Moldova to improve the capacity of a mobile team who provide children with disabilities with social services.

In Tunisia, SDC supports various initiatives to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities. For example, in partnership with UN Volunteers (link), the ‹One Life› project provides the opportunity for people with disabilities to be included in volunteering opportunities within the United Nations system in Tunisia. SDC also supported the ‹Handy Music Festival› (link and more info below), raising public awareness of disability inclusion, and promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities through art.
Tunisia Handy Music Festival
PNG2.19 MB9 December 2024
In addition, SDC support was provided to develop an accessible tourist trail at the Musée de la Musique. This pilot project offered people who are visually impaired the opportunity to explore and enjoy the country's culture, widening their access to cultural and educational experiences. Going forward, the SDC office in Tunisia is planning to introduce training for staff to improve awareness of the specific needs of people with disabilities, as well as detailing best practice to ensure all projects are disability inclusive.
"The training will be part of a reflection on disability «an eye-opener» for everybody. The idea is that the staff of our Embassy will understand the different types of disabilities, including both physical disabilities and mental health conditions, and the day-to-day impact they may have on an individual" says Fabrizio Poretti, SDC Head of Cooperation in Tunis
In Serbia, SDC has supported a range of disability inclusive initiatives through the ‹PRO Local Governance for People and Nature› Programme.
- For example, through the Programme technical assistance 19 local governments have undertaken a mapping of the needs of people with disabilities (PWDs) with regards to social services as well as applied integrated policy approaches, improving the quality and efficiency of service delivery for this target group.
- In addition, support has been provided to a capacity building programme for inter-sectoral collaboration, which has resulted in early child intervention teams being established in 22 local government areas, thus providing invaluable support to children with developmental difficulties and their families (Success story: Success Lies in Unity - link). Within the Programme technical assistance for licensing of civil society organisations (CSOs) as service providers two CSOs completely raised their capacities and prepared documentation for licensing, both for services targeting PWDs.
- Finally, through the Programme grant support for 20 social integrated projects implemented by the CSOs, a total of five projects directly supported PWDs while a total of 178 PWDs (69 female) have benefited from newly established services. As an example of best practice, the ‹Mens sana in corpore sano› project (link) implemented by Smederevo Society for Cerebral and Children's Palsy, introduced a new service with a multi-sector approach i.e. free physical therapy for 30 people with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy who do not have enough financial resources to provide this type of service themselves, which significantly improved their physical and mental health, especially in terms of less pain, spasms and involuntary movements while walking is easier and faster. As for the sustainability prospect, the introduced service is included into the Local Action Plan for PWDs while the General Hospital as a Partner developed the Rulebook for the use of the service and is obliged to continue regularly with the service.
- SDC has been working with partners in Moldova to deliver disability inclusive development. Since 2018, SDC has been supporting the ‹Marathon for all› initiative (link), which is organized by the non-government organization, «Sporter». This allows people with disabilities to participate in a marathon. In addition, the SDC, together with the Soros Foundation and the EU, implemented by the Alliance of Organizations for Persons with Disabilities from Moldova (link), which has strengthened the capacity of a mobile team to provide children with disabilities with social services. to the project assisted children from Moldova as well as Ukrainian refugees. Training for staff has been provided as well as procurement of necessary tools and materials.
- Another initiative that SDC has contributed to is co-financed by UNDP and several private sector partners is a book project that explains in an accessible way, how people with Down Syndrome perceive the world and learn, thus raising awareness about different educational needs. The book was presented in six rural schools with the aim to mobilize pupils and teachers in promoting acceptance and developing a network of ‹ambassadors›. The Moldovan Ministry of Education has approved the concept and the visits in schools and further presentations are planned as well as an online awareness raising campaign with the participation of ‹ambassadors› from all visited schools. The project aims to engage 750 pupils, 150 teachers, and many thousands more through the online campaign.
How to truly Leave No One Behind: A disability-inclusive protection in practice in Moldova
PDF1.80 MB1 January 2024

Guidance and tools on disability inclusive development

Ensuring disability inclusive development is necessary from both a human rights and a sustainable development perspective. In order for SDC staff and partners to ensure their work is disability inclusive, there are several documents and tools that offer advice and guidance:

The Disability and Development Report 2024 titled «Accelerating the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with persons with disabilities» is produced by the UN. It reports that people with disabilities continue to be left behind in the efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals before the 2030 deadline. Thematic areas including food security, health, and access to energy and ICT require further work to ensure they are inclusive of people with disabilities. It identifies concrete steps that need to be taken to ensure sustainable development is inclusive for all.

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This policy document describes and updates USAID commitment to non-discrimination and the inclusion of people with disabilities in society on an equitable basis with others. It recognises that to address the many challenges relating to disability inclusion, and to take full advantage of the opportunities, USAID and other development agencies and organisations need to partner with people with disabilities. Annex I is of particular interest, as it details promising approaches to disability-inclusive programming across the USAID portfolio, including programmes focused on agriculture and food security, climate, and democracy among others.

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This short video from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) focuses on assistive technology. It provides an insight into the current situation, its relevance to sustainable development, as we as detailing what needs to be done to make access to assistive technology a reality for all those who need it. Current obstacles to access to assistive technology are identified as lack of awareness, political will, and financial accessibility.
Based on learning from the UK Aid funded Disability Inclusive Development programme, this booklet produced by the Inclusive Futures consortium is designed to help other organisations include more people with disabilities in international development work. It includes details of the following six inclusion principles: be ambitious – build inclusion into every phase; if it’s not working – change it; shatter stereotypes and break down barriers; collect precise data and track spending; capture changes and tell your story; and don’t try to do it alone – form partnerships. The booklet is designed to provide the necessary guidance to make projects inclusive of people with disabilities, while also improving the confidence of development professionals to achieve this goal.

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This briefing by the International Disability and Development Consortium provides useful information on the intersection of health equity for persons with disabilities and climate change. It includes recommendations to the WHO and other multi-sector stakeholders to develop initiatives on climate and health that recognise and address the disproportionate impact of climate change on people with disabilities.

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In this resolution, the European Disability Forum brings attention to the disproportionate impact of crises on people with disabilities. They argue that in conflict situations, persons with disabilities are among the first to lose their lives and to be left behind. People with disabilities are at heightened risk of international humanitarian law and human rights violations. In situations of conflicts and natural disasters, the mortality rate among people with disabilities tends to be higher than general populations. The impact is often compounded for people with disabilities who also experience intersecting forms of discrimination, such as women, children, older persons, and indigenous people. Demands are detailed to national governments, international organisations and partners to ensure that people with disabilities are included in policy, planning and implementation.

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This plan describes Women Enabled International’s strategy to develop their work on gender equality in a disability inclusive way. It details the organisation’s core mission as well as its approach to partnership and collaboration with the broader gender and disability movement and key allies in mainstream human rights and justice movements. Of particular interest are the list of core tactics with regards to gender and disability. These include tactics relating to advocacy and accountability, capacity strengthening, movement building and collaboration, bridge building and facilitating access to power, strategic communications, research and documentation, and an approach for the inclusion of structurally excluded groups, who may face intersectional discrimination.

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With the goal of detailing pathways for increasing disability inclusion in emergency preparedness and response programming, this World Food Programme (WFP) guide builds advice from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action, as well as other corer material. It contextualises disability inclusion in WFP’s emergency preparedness and response programming. It focuses on programmes from Asia and the Pacific, but it is of relevance to development professionals working in other regions.

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Persons with disabilities constitute approximately fifteen percent of the global population – a figure that only rises during crises. Armed conflicts, in particular, generate new disabilities, exacerbate the existing barriers faced by persons with disabilities, and expose the whole community to greater harm. Yet, the experiences of persons with disabilities in armed conflict and the effects of armed conflict on this population are sorely understudied. In addition, discussions of the effects of armed conflicts on persons with disabilities have too often failed to include the voices and perspectives of that community. This edition of the International Review of the Red Cross aims to reshape the landscape. Its thirty thought-provoking contributions, including many authored by persons with disabilities, jointly take stock of the legal protections (and lack thereof) for persons with disabilities in armed conflicts, and reflect critically how to move the legal and policy debates forward in the next few years.

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This toolkit is designed as a resource for CBM that can be used in a variety of ways: to support staff induction, team meetings, refresher days and training workshops. It can also be used as a tool for personal reflection and self-study.

Tips for those intending to use it as a training resource are shaded differently. The toolkit is presented in four main chapters targeting different audiences.
Chapter 1: DID an introduction
Chapter 2: DID for managers
Chapter 3: DID for programme staff
Chapter 4: Inclusive training and facilitation

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The Disability and Gender Analysis toolkit is designed to help CBM and partners ‹walk the talk› on disability and gender equality. It aims to assist with gender and disability analysis. It aims to help CBM staff and partners improve the quality of their approach and ways of working, and uphold our commitment to equality and non-discrimination in all that we do. This practical set of tools tool is designed to strengthen our accountability, or organisational learning and reflection, the quality of program implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and organisational performance.

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