Latest news with #InternationalDisabilityAlliance
The Citizen
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Germiston school speaks out at global disability forum
Mendy Welcome, deputy principal of Ithembelihle LSEN School and SADTU-RSA representative, attended the Global Disability Summit 2025 in Berlin. He highlighted challenges in South Africa, including limited disability inclusion in workplaces and universities lacking capacity for students with disabilities. Insufficient infrastructure and transportation access and budget cuts affecting schools, particularly special schools, were additional challenges he highlighted. ALSO READ: Ithembelihle LSEN School showered with donations Welcome's presentation emphasised the need for greater inclusivity and accessibility in South Africa's education system and workplaces. 'Infrastructure and transportation that is ready to enable access for the impaired is still a challenge. 'There is still a lack of suitable infrastructure to accommodate, for example, wheelchair users in workspaces and learning institutions,' said Welcome. 'Budget cuts to all schools are a national catastrophe, making it extremely difficult for schools to operate without adequate resources, particularly for special schools,' said Welcome. The summit brought together a wide variety of stakeholders, engaging and discussing progress in disability inclusion: governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector, academia, trade unions and civil society organisations, organisations of persons with disabilities, and foundations. The opening of the event was entrusted to Nawaf Kabbara, president of the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and to the representatives of the two co-organising governments of the event, Germany and Jordan, respectively by Chancellor Olaf Schulz and King Abdullah Al Hussein. ALSO READ: Ithembelihle LSEN School marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month The two-day event saw a succession of in-depth studies and round tables discussions, for the analysis of situations in different countries and social contexts. An important space was reserved for the theme of inclusion in school and work. One of the main panels was creating inclusive labour markets and decent work for people with disabilities around the world, which was attended by Luc Triangle, Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation. Triangle underlined the three main priorities for action to achieve significant progress at the international level with respect to the right to inclusion: the creation of specific legislation, the defense of the welfare state attacked daily by right-wing governments and the implementation of the green and digital economy. ALSO READ: 20 wheelchairs donated to iThembelihle LSEN School In addition to the numerous in-depth tables related to the education sector, the summit was an opportunity for Education International, the international federation of trade unions in the knowledge sectors, to co-ordinate the presence of some of the affiliated organisations: VBE from Germany, JTU from Japan, FLC CGIL from Italy, FENPROF from Portugal, NASUWT from the United Kingdom and SADTU from South Africa. The final day saw the launch of the Amman-Berlin Declaration, which proposes two specific objectives: • To ensure that all international development programmes are accessible to persons with disabilities. • Strive to ensure that at least 15% of international development programmes implemented at national level pursue disability inclusion. With the goal of '15% for 15%,' the Amman-Berlin Declaration seeks to establish, for the first time, a quantifiable target for the inclusion of the largest minority group: 15-16 % of the world's population. The goal is to achieve this milestone by the fourth GDS in 2028. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Jordan Times
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Civil society welcomes King's call to implement disability rights law
His Majesty King Abdullah during his participation at the opening of the third Global Disability Summit (GDS 2025) in Berlin, co-hosted by the governments of Jordan and Germany along with the International Disability Alliance. The King delivered a speech, emphsising the need to work together and take action to ensure that people with disabilities can live their lives with dignity, happiness and hope (Photo courtesy of Royal Court) AMMAN — Civil society initiatives and disability rights campaigns in Jordan on Tuesday commended His Majesty King Abdullah's speech at the Third Global Disability Summit as a pivotal moment for advancing inclusion and accessibility in the Kingdom. Among the most vocal supporters was the Ibni "My Son" campaign, which described the King's address as 'a formal call to action for the immediate implementation of the Disability Rights Law No. 20 of 2017.' In a press statement sent to The Jordan Times, the campaign said the King's remarks, delivered during the international summit held in Germany, reflected 'genuine political will to advance the rights of persons with disabilities in Jordan.' It added that the speech marked a decisive shift from merely having laws in place to ensuring their effective implementation. "The King's speech serves as a direct notification that the time has come to move from legislation to execution," the campaign noted. 'These laws must be translated into actions that meaningfully improve the lives of persons with disabilities and ensure their full and active participation in society.' The impact of the King's words resonated deeply with individuals from the disability community. Hala Mohammad, a university student with a mobility impairment, told The Jordan Times, 'Listening to His Majesty speak about our rights on a global stage gave me a sense of visibility.' The Ibni campaign also stressed that the King's vision underscored a shared national responsibility to guarantee access to education, healthcare, employment, and social protection for people with disabilities. Disability rights advocate Maha Hassan said, 'Inclusion is not just a social obligation, it is an economic imperative. Empowering persons with disabilities to enter the workforce will boost productivity and support long-term national growth.' The Global Disability Summit convened world leaders, policymakers, and advocates committed to advancing the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Local activists said King Abdullah's participation was both empowering and timely, especially as Jordan moves forward with broader social protection and inclusion reforms.
Jordan Times
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Global Disability Summit concludes with commitments for inclusion
Persons with disabilities, who make up 15 per cent of the global population are often left out of development projects (Photo courtesy of the Global Disability Summit) AMMAN — The third Global Disability Summit concluded on April 3 in Berlin with tangible commitments to advance disability inclusion. Persons with disabilities, who make up 15 per cent of the global population—approximately 1.3 billion people— are often left out of development projects. In response to this gap and the backdrop of shrinking aid for inclusion, the Summit introduced a new goal: ensuring that at least 15 per cent of development projects at the country level focus on disability inclusion. This target is captured in the Amman-Berlin Declaration, which was adopted today by over 80 governments and organisations, according to a statement for The Jordan Times. Throughout the Summit, over 800 commitments were made by governments, private sector organisations, and development actors to enhance accessibility and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities. Co-hosted by the German Development Ministry, Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the Summit brought together 4,500 participants from nearly 100 countries, including persons with disabilities, government representatives, and civil society leaders. Over the course of more than 60 sessions, discussions focused on strengthening the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and ensuring that commitments lead to actionable change. At the opening ceremony, Olaf Scholz, the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany reaffirmed Germany's commitment to disability inclusion, especially in a time when countries are cutting down on their inclusion funding. The Chancellor committed to the 15per cent target and announced a joint initiative on inclusive education with Jordan. His Majesty King Abdullah called for ongoing commitment and action to ensure that all individuals can live with dignity, happiness, and hope, stressing that inclusion is not merely about accessibility, but it is also about recognising the inherent potential in every human being and creating environments where everyone can contribute, the statement said. Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), stressed that true disability inclusion cannot be achieved unless Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are at the table where funding decisions are made. He emphasised that inclusion must be 'with' OPDs, not 'for' OPDs. The Amman-Berlin Declaration sets a target that at least 15 per cent of development projects be specifically designed to promote disability inclusion. Currently, only six per cent of development projects directly contribute to this goal. German Development Minister Svenja Schulze noted that development policy can only succeed when all stakeholders collaborate, highlighting that the Amman-Berlin Declaration is a global commitment, not just a promise from donor countries. She emphasised that true inclusion benefits not only the 15 per cent of people with disabilities, but society as a whole. Several key initiatives were also announced during the Summit. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) committed to launching an Assistive Technology Investment Vehicle through the AT2030 programme, aiming to raise $60 million by 2026, while co-chairing the Global Action on Disability (GLAD) Network to foster global partnerships for disability inclusion. UNICEF committed to allocating 10 per cent of its annual budget to children with disabilities by 2030, expanding data collection, and scaling inclusive education and protection systems in 50 countries. IDA pledged to strengthen OPDs in over 100 countries to influence policy, launch a leadership programme for 80 young persons with disabilities, and partner with the UN Global Disability Fund to advance the implementation of the CRPD in 50 countries. In Jordan, 88 national organisations—including government bodies, civil society, academia, media, and the private sector—made 133 commitments to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. During a dedicated session, Azmi Mahafzah, Minister of Education, announced five strategic, rights-based commitments, including a 90 million JOD investment by the Association of Banks in Jordan, banks operating in the country, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to enhance inclusive education and health services, and transform 250 public schools. These pledges highlight Jordan's strong commitment to dignity, equality, and the full participation of persons with disabilities, according to the statement. A new partnership between Germany and the African Union was announced to strengthen organisations of persons with disabilities across Africa, with a focus on youth and women. The multilateral education initiative Education Cannot Wait will collaborate with Germany, the United Kingdom, IDA, and the Girls' Education Challenge to improve data collection and accountability for inclusive education in crisis-affected regions by 2028.
Observer
06-04-2025
- Business
- Observer
Oman backs disability inclusion at World Disability Summit in Berlin
BERLIN: The Sultanate of Oman took part in the 2025 World Disability Summit in Berlin, Germany. The two-day summit aimed to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and integrate them into society, particularly in developing countries. Maitha bint Saif al Mahrouqiyah, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Federal Republic of Germany, headed Sultanate of Oman's delegation to the summit. The summit seeks to bridge the gap between the inclusion of persons with disabilities and development cooperation, and to enhance the voice and participation of persons with disabilities in policymaking. It also focuses on the practical implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The summit featured numerous accompanying events, exhibitions and panel discussions that will address important topics such as the economic empowerment of persons with disabilities, the role of social security in this context, and the feasibility of its implementation in low- and middle-income countries. The Sultanate of Oman's delegation participated in the high-level Arab-international event, organised by the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States in cooperation with the International Disability Alliance, the Arab Organization for Persons with Disabilities, and the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labour and Social Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council, under the title 'Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Supporting Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities'. The summit reviewed the role of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in supporting technology, innovation and entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities. It is worth noting that the World Disability Summit was established in 2017 with the aim of bringing together relevant stakeholders at the global, regional and local levels who share the goals and vision of disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action. The summit represents a mechanism that goes beyond a two-day summit held every three years; rather, it requires ongoing support from relevant stakeholders at the global level, and partnerships between member states and organisations of persons with disabilities. - ONA
Roya News
04-04-2025
- Business
- Roya News
King Abdullah II returns to Jordan after visits to Germany, Bulgaria
His Majesty King Abdullah II returned to Jordan on Friday, after working visits to Germany and Bulgaria. His Majesty participated on April 2 in the third Global Disability Summit (GDS 2025), which is co-organised by the governments of Jordan and Germany along with the International Disability Alliance (IDA), and continued for two days. Also in Berlin, the King held meetings with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a number of Bundestag members, representatives of leading think tanks, and economic and commercial institutions.
