….As IDA President calls for action
By Dumisani Ndlovu
Berlin, Germany – April 2, 2025 – Dr. Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), emphasized the urgency of disability rights during the opening of the 3rd Global Disability Summit in Berlin, which has gathered over 4,700 participants from more than 110 countries. This summit, co-hosted by Germany, Jordan, and the IDA, aims to elevate the voices of persons with disabilities and drive concrete actions toward inclusion.
“This gathering is not just symbolic,” Kabbara stated. “It’s a signal to the world that persons with disabilities are not waiting on the sidelines of global progress. We are driving it, in partnership with governments and supporters who believe in the potential and power of the disability movement.”
Kabbara reflected on the inception of the Global Disability Summit in 2017, which was born from the conviction that disability-inclusive development should not be confined to the margins. The first two summits, held in 2018 and 2022, resulted in over 2,400 commitments aimed at advancing disability rights, leading to improvements in inclusive education, healthcare access, and employment opportunities. Kabbara noted that in humanitarian settings, inclusion is increasingly recognized as a core principle rather than an afterthought.
As the summit unfolds, Kabbara stressed that it represents a “step-change” focused on action, accountability, and funding, stating, “Commitments without investment are just words.” He highlighted the critical need for tangible results, asserting that “persons with disabilities deserve more than promises—they deserve results.”
However, he acknowledged the profound challenges facing the disability community, including budget cuts, rising anti-inclusion rhetoric, and the potential rollback of hard-won rights. “For millions of persons with disabilities, inclusion is a matter of life and death,” he said, underscoring the dire consequences of exclusion in health systems, disaster preparedness, and humanitarian crises.
Kabbara reiterated the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), calling it a living document and a promise from the 192 parties to prioritize the needs of individuals with disabilities. He urged stakeholders to recognize Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) not merely as beneficiaries but as leaders and experts in the movement for inclusion.
The Amman-Jordan Declaration was highlighted as a reaffirmation of OPD leadership, calling on governments to localize commitments and elevate OPD voices in tracking and implementation. Kabbara made a powerful appeal for “15% for the 15%,” advocating for increased and monitored country-level development activities that meaningfully address the needs of persons with disabilities.
In his closing remarks, he thanked Germany for its support of the Global Disability Inclusion Report, which centers OPDs and emphasizes the necessity of funding their initiatives.
Over the next two days, the summit will feature a variety of discussions, including plenaries, side-events, and exhibitions. Kabbara encouraged all participants, particularly OPD representatives, to actively share their priorities and shape the agenda.
“As we leave this Summit, let us be inspired, mobilized, and energized to advance the rights of persons with disabilities more than ever before,” he concluded. “United in our belief that respect for our diversity and rights are not negotiable. That inclusion is not optional.”
The 3rd Global Disability Summit is poised to be a transformative event, driving forward progress at a critical moment for persons with disabilities worldwide.
Disability Rights Are Non-Negotiable: IDA President Calls for Action at 3rd Global Disability Summit
Berlin, Germany — April 2, 2025
Dr. Nawaf Kabbara, President of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), delivered a powerful opening address at the 3rd Global Disability Summit in Berlin, emphasizing the urgent need for action, accountability, and funding to advance the rights of persons with disabilities. The summit, co-hosted by Germany, Jordan, and the IDA, has attracted over 4,700 participants from more than 110 countries, marking it as the largest gathering of the global disability movement.
“This gathering is not just symbolic,” Dr. Kabbara stated. “It’s a signal to the world that persons with disabilities are not waiting on the sidelines of global progress. We are driving it, in partnership with governments and supporters who believe in the potential and power of the disability movement.”
Dr. Kabbara traced the origins of the Global Disability Summit back to 2017, highlighting its aim to integrate disability-inclusive development into mainstream policy-making. The first two summits, held in 2018 and 2022, resulted in over 2,400 commitments from various nations, leading to significant advancements in inclusive education, healthcare access, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
However, he cautioned against complacency, noting that the global landscape has shifted dramatically. “We are gathering at a time of profound challenge,” he warned. “Around the world, we are seeing hard-won rights rolled back. Budgets are shrinking. Anti-inclusion rhetoric is growing louder. And once again, the lives of persons with disabilities are at risk of being deprioritized.”
Dr. Kabbara underscored that the stakes are high, asserting that for millions, inclusion is a matter of life and death. “When health systems are inaccessible, people die. When early warning systems don’t account for disability, people are left behind in disasters,” he said. “The ultimate cost of exclusion is unacceptable, and we must push back and push forward.”
Central to his message was the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which he described as a living document and a promise from the nearly 192 parties to prioritize the needs of persons with disabilities. He called for a paradigm shift in how organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) are perceived, urging that they be recognized not merely as beneficiaries but as leaders in the discourse surrounding their rights.
The Amman-Jordan Declaration, which was announced at the summit, reiterates this leadership role by calling on governments to localize commitments and ensure OPDs are involved in implementation and monitoring. The declaration also includes a call for “15% for the 15%,” advocating for increased funding and resources for disability-inclusive development initiatives.
Dr. Kabbara expressed gratitude to Germany for supporting the Global Disability Inclusion Report, which positions OPDs at the center of the conversation about disability rights. “We must continue to produce our own knowledge and tell the world what needs to be done,” he stated.
Over the next two days, the summit will feature a variety of discussions, including plenaries, side-events, and exhibitions aimed at amplifying the voices of OPD representatives. Dr. Kabbara encouraged participants to share their priorities and insights, emphasizing that a movement reflecting diverse identities is essential for driving meaningful change.
As the summit commenced, Dr. Kabbara expressed hope that it would serve not just as an event, but as an ongoing process that propels progress for persons with disabilities worldwide. “Respect for our diversity and rights are not negotiable. Inclusion is not optional,” he concluded, urging all attendees to unite in this critical mission.
The 3rd Global Disability Summit stands as a pivotal moment for the disability rights movement, with high hopes for transformative outcomes that will resonate across the globe.
