Egypt embraces inclusion - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
In its effort to integrate people with special needs and boost their rights, Egypt participated in the third edition of the Global Disability Summit which took place in Berlin from 2-3 April with the attendance of more than 3,000 global leaders. The summit aimed to promote comprehensive development and humanitarian action for people with disabilities. At the end of the summit, Egypt announced its adoption of the Amman-Berlin 2025 Declaration to promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
The summit concluded its sessions with over 120 countries and international organisations adopting the summit's declaration which sought to enhance the rights of persons with disabilities globally over the coming years on an unprecedented scale.
The Amman-Berlin Declaration focuses on achieving two main objectives: '15 per cent for 15 per cent', which calls for allocating at least 15 per cent of international development programmes to include persons with disabilities who represent 15 per cent of the world's population, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The second is to promote the inclusiveness of international development programmes to ensure equality for and non-discrimination against people with disabilities.
The declaration supports the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in international cooperation, with strong emphasis on inclusive and sustainable development. It also calls for measures to protect the safety and well-being of persons with disabilities in times of crisis, such as armed conflicts and natural disasters.
As part of its voluntary commitments, Egypt pledged to work towards achieving the 'Living Independently' initiative over the next three years. The plan aims to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities and ensure their full integration into society. It includes improving access to education and healthcare services, providing equal job opportunities, and developing more inclusive infrastructure.
Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity Maya Morsi noted that, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), in 2022, the number of persons with disabilities in Egypt was approximately 10 million. Morsi said that 1.2 million integrated services cards have been issued for people with severe disabilities, confirming that the ministry's offices are open in all directorates to provide the service.
According to CAPMAS, the proportion of persons with disabilities was higher in urban areas compared to rural areas, recording 12.1 per cent in urban areas versus 10.1 per cent in rural areas in the same year.
Additionally, the percentage of persons with disabilities was higher among females than males, reaching 11.4 per cent for females compared to 10.6 per cent for males for the same year. The data also showed that individuals with severe to complete disabilities accounted for 4.8 per cent of the total population across the country in 2022.
Based on the Amman-Berlin Declaration, internal cooperation among relevant stakeholders will be enhanced to achieve the 15 per cent for 15 per cent goal using advanced measurement and evaluation tools. Egypt will develop an implementation plan following the summit to ensure that disability issues are integrated across all sectors.
The Global Disability Summit serves as a crucial platform to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities worldwide. The summit aspired to transform labour markets to become more inclusive, ensure fair and equitable health and education systems, close the digital divide, and guarantee greater participation of persons with disabilities in public life.
The summit, first launched in 2017, aimed at bringing together stakeholders from around the world to achieve inclusive development and comprehensive humanitarian action for persons with disabilities. The current summit was hosted by the governments of Germany and Jordan, in collaboration with the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
The summit aimed to amplify the voices and enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in policymaking. It addressed key topics such as the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, the role of social protection in this context, and its feasibility in low- and middle income countries. It also discussed inclusive employment in the Arab region, the challenges it faces, and the necessary policy recommendations to overcome barriers. Berlin served as a global stage for showcasing the priorities and perspectives of persons with disabilities directly to the international audience, reinforcing the slogan 'Nothing About Us Without Us'.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 10 April, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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