Implementing the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy
WHO / Violaine Martin
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Implementing the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy

Disability inclusion should not be an afterthought. The needs of people with disability must be integrated into our thinking. The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) demands change.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres launched the UNDIS to bring disability inclusion to the forefront of all areas of the UN’s work around the world, both inside and outside the organization. Disability must now be ingrained across all programmatic areas of work and core functions of the UN.

To ensure sustainable and transformative change, the UNDIS has both a policy and an accountability framework. The policy establishes the highest levels of commitment and a vision for the UN system on disability inclusion for the next decade. The accountability framework establishes clear and achievable objectives against which UN organizations will be held accountable at individual entity and country team levels.

The accountability framework consists of 4 focus areas and 15 indicators:

Table with four columns 1 header row and 4 rows
UNDIS
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WHO launched its Policy on Disability on 3 December 2020 which coincides with International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Policy serves as the framework for implementing the UNDIS across the Organization, formalizing commitments and driving institutional change to make disability inclusion central to WHO’s operations and core functions.

All UN entities, like WHO, must report each year on all 15 indicators within the 4 focus areas.

Disability Inclusion Strategy – UN Secretary-General video message

4 July 2023

Disability Inclusion Strategy – UN Secretary-General Video Message