https://www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/blog/4500-people-join-gd...
Over 4500 participants, including representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities from across the world have gathered together for the Global Disability Summit 2025 in Berlin, marking a moment of renewed commitment to disability inclusion. As the representative voice of the global disability movement, the International Disability Alliance (IDA) is the permanent co-host of the GDS, and hosts this edition alongside the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
During the opening ceremony, leaders from around the world spoke about their commitment to disability rights. Dr. Nawaf Kabbara, President of IDA, took the stage to emphasize the central role of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in shaping global policies. He reiterated the necessity of a rights-based approach to inclusion and the urgency of addressing gaps that persist in policy and practice. His remarks set a strong foundation for the discussions that followed.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced Germany’s plans uphold the 15% for 15% funding target even in a time where many States were backtracking on disability inclusion. He expressed appreciation for Jordan and IDA's leadership and collective action in driving meaningful change through this GDS.
His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan spoke at length about the importance of leading role that OPDs had in the realization of disability inclusion, and the importance of addressing disability inclusion in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies, such as that ongoing in Gaza.
The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed raised concerns that progress on disability-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is slowing down, and in some areas, moving backward, and emphasized the urgent need to act to address these concerns in the next 5 years.
The second opening session titled “Voices of Inclusion” highlighted pathbreaking initiatives that have the potential to positively change outcomes for persons with disabilities, which are rooted in OPD participation
The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced a new global initiative to bring together organizations working in health and disability, particularly organizations of persons with disabilities, aimed at strengthening WHO’s technical work with civil society, ensuring better health outcomes for persons with disabilities.
The IDA Youth Committee, represented by Charlotte Young, launched the Youth Call to Action. Developed by the IDA Youth Committee in partnership with UNICEF and Sightsavers, this document outlines key priorities for meaningful youth engagement. It serves as a roadmap for ensuring that young people with disabilities have a voice in shaping the commitments made at the Summit and beyond.
Sanja Tarczay, IDA Executive Committee Member and President of the World Federation of the Deafblind, presented key findings from the Civil Society Forum and the Civil Society Declaration. These insights reflect the priorities and demands of global civil society, ensuring that the perspectives of persons with disabilities are at the heart of GDS deliberations.
Norway’s Minister of International Development, Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, spoke about Norway’s longstanding support for the Summit, having co-hosted in 2022, and announced increased funding for disability-inclusive development.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach stressed the importance of creating accessible cities and shared details of a new initiative launched at the Summit. She also confirmed UN-Habitat’s endorsement of the Amman-Berlin Declaration, highligting the need for inclusive urban planning.
Marie Luise Abomo, Commissioner at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, called on African states to ratify the African Protocol on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
IDA members and their members ensured a strong perspective of OPD leadership throughout the day’s events, through their participating in, moderating, and hosting main events, side events, and fireside chats. To learn more about the main session on health equity, click here. For details on the side event on the, Financing Disability-Inclusive Humanitarian Response, click here.
