Blog: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)

This year’s theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is: “United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities.” Able Child Africa is working alongside partners to help realise the SDGs for children with disabilities in Africa. Globally, however, we are at the halfway mark for the implementation of these goals, and sadly are significantly off track.

If the international community are serious about improving the lives of those with disabilities, governments must commit to their promises of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals for everyone, including children with disabilities. Children with disabilities have a basic human right to be included, but when will this be fulfilled?

To include children with disabilities, we must listen to their views and value their opinions, and then act on them. After all, they are the ones that know what works best for them and the ways in which they want to be included in society. The International Day of Persons with Disability is a chance to bring international eyes onto this important issue.

If we successfully implement these goals into policy, we can radically improve the lives of these children. By falling behind we are not fulfilling our global commitment to children with disabilities and denying them a fair future. If we do successfully implement the SDGs we can build a world where all children with disabilities are included in every part of life.

Let’s come together and make the SDGs a reality for ALL children with disabilities.