Government announces 2018 Global Disability Summit

The new Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, has vowed to “put disability at the heart of DFID” (Dept for International Development)  and announced that the UK will host a major Global Disability Summit in July 2018. The event will bring together global leaders and technology companies to tackle the barriers that prevent people living with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries from reaching their full potential. The announcement was made at an event organised by CBM and other disability and development organisations to mark International Day for People with Disability. 

Kirsty Smith, Chief Executive of CBM UK, welcomed the announcement:

“We’re delighted that the UK Government is showing continued commitment to be a world-leader in disability and development.  People living with disabilities in low-income countries are the world’s poorest people and yet too often they’ve been left behind by international aid and development efforts. We hope that the Disability Summit announced today will change that, building global commitment to ending the cycle of poverty and disability that holds not only people with disabilities but entire communities back”. 

The Disability Summit will be co-hosted by the UK Government and will take place in July 2018. It will bring technology companies, governments and NGOs together, aiming to bring about increased commitment to transform the lives of people living with disabilities.

In her announcement, the International Development Secretary said:

“For too long many people living with disabilities in the world’s poorest countries have not been able to fulfil their potential due to stigma or a lack of practical support. They are, for example, missing out on school and the chance to work.”

“Discrimination is unacceptable in today’s society. I want us all to act now and break down the barriers people with all disabilities face in their everyday lives, so they are not short-changed on opportunities to use their entrepreneurial spirit to help their countries prosper.”

Marking International Day for People with Disabilities

The Secretary of State was speaking at an event to mark International Day for People with Disabilities, which takes place on Sunday 3rd December. It was organised by the Bond Disability and Development Group, a group of NGOs working to improve the lives of people with disabilities, of which CBM is a member, and hosted by Microsoft UK at their London headquarters.

As we approach International Day for Persons with Disabilities on Sunday, visit our Facebook page for inspiring stories (open link in new tab) from men and women with disabilities who are making a difference in their communities from Tanzania to Vanuatu or check out our latest blog from Kirsty Smith about how CBM is helping people with disabilities to earn a living (open link in new tab) .