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2024 Theme: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future

The leadership of persons with disabilities is epitomised by the global disability rights movement’s slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us”. It connotes the basic requirements of participation, representation and inclusion and calls for persons with disabilities to actively shape the conditions of their lives.

One of the priorities of the global disability agenda is to advance the agency and leadership of persons with disabilities. In the past decades, persons with disabilities and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) have already championed for the changes in their communities, and have been leading many of the community-led initiatives not only to advance their own rights, and wellbeing but also promoting inclusive development for instance enabling universal access to basic services by all; they have done so by taking both targeted and mainstreaming approaches to disability inclusion through, among others, consultation, data collection and analysis, and support with advocacy and accountability efforts.

The observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (IDPD 2024) takes place against the backdrop of pivotal global developments, from the Summit of the Future to the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development . These key global Summits will complement one another in providing a continuous roadmap toward disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development. By emphasising this complementarity, the theme chosen for the observance in 2024 aims to underscore the importance of leveraging the leadership of persons with disabilities to ensure disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development for all.

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy

When launching the  United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy  in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion—across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.  

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In 2024, the Secretary-General submitted his fifth report on disability inclusion in the UN system. It reflects on the progress made to advance disability inclusion, highlights new or continuing challenges and opportunities presented through the Strategy’s implementation, and emphasizes key areas of focus needed to continue mobilizing the system towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable world for all.

Commemorative Event: 3 December 2024

The commemorative event to be held at the UN Headquarters in New York to mark this year’s IDPD will consist of an in-person opening segment and a virtual panel.

10am-11am (in-person): Opening Segment

The opening segment will provide a policy overview of the global disability agenda over the past year, as well as look forward to key global policy milestones ahead. The overview will encompass developments and achievements following the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (17th session), the 79th session of the General Assembly and the Summit of the Future, as well as discuss the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development (2025) and ongoing efforts to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for, with and by persons with disabilities.

11:30am-1:15pm (online): Panel Discussion

The panel discussion, following the opening segment, will be organised in a virtual format, engaging experts, advocates and leaders in the global disability rights movement and highlighting emerging trends and opportunities for amplifying the voices, agency and action of persons with disabilities in key areas related to disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development.

The following discussion points will structure the panel discussion:

• The upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development;
• Five-year anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2475 ;
• The current climate crisis affecting people and planet as a whole.

Concept note

The cornerstone of this cooperation must be the active participation of persons with disabilities in their full diversity, and their full inclusion in all decision-making processes. António Guterres

Did you know? 

• An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us.
• Some persons with disabilities die up to 20 years earlier than those without disabilities.
• Persons with disabilities have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.
• Health inequities arise from unfair conditions faced by persons with disabilities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, exclusion from education and employment, and barriers faced in the health system itself.

Source: WHO Factsheet

Nyle Di Marco, New York Times bestselling author, producer, advocate, and actor talks about disabilities and Human Rights.

United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy

When we secure the rights of persons with disabilities, we move our world closer to upholding the core values and principles of the  United Nations Charter . The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and development.  Read the latest report of the UN Secretary-General about the implementation of the Strategy , available in various accessible formats.

Related observances

4 January: World Braille Day  

21 March: World Down Syndrome Day  

2 April: World Autism Day

23 September: International Day of Sign Languages  

10 December: Human Rights Day

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

• Get involved

Statement on International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December 2024

November 22, 2024.

Achim Steiner

UNDP Administrator

This year, some  3.7 billion people across the world have the opportunity to vote, more than ever before in history.

Yet, for countless persons with disabilities, significant barriers -- like inaccessible voting facilities or discrimination -- hinder their ability to shape the future they envision.

As part of the United Nations (UN) family, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities, including by promoting their political participation.

For example, that includes Libya where sign language systems are helping to ensure that people with hearing disabilities can have their say in elections.

Yet, inclusion goes beyond the ballot box.

It requires governance systems where everybody can be heard and represented.

Consider Nepal, where UNDP  facilitates dialogues between persons with disabilities and Members of Parliament -- providing a new platform to advocate for their rights and aspirations.

We are also helping countries to seize the opportunities of new technologies.

For example, in Somalia, the UNDP Accelerator Lab launched a  Disability Digital Lab , which provides a range of digital tools and training courses.

Indeed, the  Pact for the Future calls for the full and equal participation of persons

with disabilities of both present and future generations in society.

This vision is more than an aspiration.

It is a critical step toward a world where everyone has the opportunity to be an architect of a more inclusive, just, and sustainable future for all.

Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed annually on December 3 rd . The theme for this year is "Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future." 

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities ( I DPD ), December 3, was established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1992 to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities. IDPD also commemorates the UN’s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities in 2006.

The IDPD is a reminder of the ongoing need to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a world where individuals with disabilities can fully participate and thrive in life. This year, we would like to raise awareness about the prevalence of disabilities in our society, the different types of disabilities, their impact, and ways we can all promote the inclusion of disabled persons.

How common are disabilities?

According to the   Canadian Survey on Disability , in 2022, 27% of Canadians ages 15 and older — or 8 million people — had one or more disabilities that limited them in their daily activities.

There are many types of disabilities. They can be permanent or temporary, exist from birth or be acquired later in life, permanent or episodic, visible or invisible. Some disabilities overlap with one another, and their symptoms and presentations vary.

Types of disabilities 

• Seeing  
• Hearing  
• Mobility, flexibility, dexterity  
• Pain-related
• Learning  
• Developmental  
• Mental-health related  

Invisible disabilities

This IDPD, we invite you to deepen  your understanding of disabilities beyond visible ones and learn about invisible disabilities. In a society where disabilities are often marked by signage of a figure in a wheelchair (think parking spaces, ramps, electronic doors), a disability that does not have immediately noticeable physical features, behaviours, or assistive devices can challenge our preconceptions of what a disabled person “looks” like.

Not being “seen” as disabled can make securing accommodations difficult and may require a person to justify or convince others that they are disabled. Revealing an invisible disability can come with social stigma, disapproval, disbelief, and judgment.

When we assume that all disabilities are visible, we risk alienating large groups of people .

Examples of invisible disabilities

• Chronic pain: A range of conditions, including injuries, digestive disorders, bone disease, and autoimmune disorders. It can include fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, back injuries, hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism, endometriosis, and more.
• Chronic fatigue: A type of disability causing an individual to feel constantly tired, exhausted, or mentally “foggy.” It may be a disorder itself or a symptom of another disability. Examples include HIV-AIDS, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, immune dysfunction syndrome, and sleep disorders.
• Mental illnesses:  This encompasses a wide range of syndromes with impacts that can vary between individuals and over time. Examples include anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: These disorders affect digestion and food processing, and impacts may range from minor to debilitating. Examples include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and diverticulitis.
• Processing disorders: These can take various forms, including auditory or sensory, and impact an individual’s ability to receive, analyze, or make sense of information. Examples can include full or partial deafness, sensory modulation disorder (SMD), sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD), and sensory discrimination disorder (SDD).

One of the most common invisible disabilities is neurodivergence. It’s important to note that not everyone who is neurodivergent considers themselves to have a disability.

What is neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence is defined as having a style of neurocognitive functioning — thinking, behaving, or learning — significantly different from what is considered “typical” by societal standards. For example, some people may need to do some kind of repetitive movement (often called stimming) to focus. Neurodivergence includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), dyspraxia, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and Tourette syndrome. Others may also identify with the term.

The Y's approach and call to action for IDPD 

The YMCA of Greater Toronto uses an intersectional approach to creating vibrant communities where everyone can shine. Disability is one of the central pillars of our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Strategy . Our goals include adopting and promoting universal design principles and advancing a strength-based and intersectional approach to disability. This means using an equity-minded approach to make our programs, services, and spaces accessible for all abilities. 

We invite you to use the links embedded in this blog to learn more about disability and accessibility . Let’s work to dismantle ableism through acts of disability justice and to update the language we use to speak with and about people with disabilities .

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