The 2030 Agenda emphasizes that all States have a responsibility to respect, protect and promote human rights without discriminationof any kind, including in relation to persons with disabilities. Its 17 Goals provide an internationally agreed frameworkfor national and global development action in the period to 2030. The Agenda includes a global commitment ‘to leave no onebehind’.
Goal 96 is especially relevant to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action. It affirms the need topromote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective,accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Goal 9 calls on societies to build sound infrastructures, particularlyin areas affected by disasters. Goals 11 and 13 serve to remind that no issues, including disaster prevention and relief,can be understood or addressed effectively in isolation.
The Sendai Framework aims to reduce disaster risks and loss of lives and assets. It promotes an ‘all of society’ approachthat includes persons with disabilities. The framework promotes inclusion,14 accessibility,15 and the application of universal design standards,16 and recognizes that persons with disabilities and their organizations have a critical role to play at all stages of disasterrisk reduction planning.17
The situation of persons with disabilities was discussed during the World Humanitarian Summit and a number of organizationsundertook to include persons with disabilities in humanitarian action.18 Member States, UN organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others recognized that humanitarian policies,procedures and programmes that seek to include persons with disabilities must be strengthened and systematized.
The Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, launched during the Summit, is grounded in both IHL and IHRL. It established five actionable commitments: non-discrimination;participation; inclusive policies; inclusive responses and services; and cooperation and coordination.
In addition to the above, both the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration include specific provisions on persons with disabilities that advocate their inclusion in responses to movements of refugeesand migrants.