April marked an exciting time for PAfID, when we attended the Global Disability Summit (GDS) in Berlin. This is the world’s leading platform for driving forward the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Launched in 2018, the Summit brings together governments, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), civil society, the private sector, international organizations, and donors to accelerate progress on disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action.
The GDS is grounded in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It serves as a recurring mechanism to promote international cooperation, mobilise commitments, and strengthen accountability for disability inclusion across all sectors. This time it was co-hosted by Germany, Jordan, and the International Disability Alliance (IDA). It brought together over 4,700 participants from 160+ countries. With a strong focus on national ownership and inclusive international cooperation, GDS 2025 concluded with the adoption of the Amman-Berlin Declaration and the pledge of 800 new commitments by Governments, private sector and development partners to accelerate disability inclusion across sectors.
David Curtis (International Director and Inclusion Advisor) said “the GDS offered fantastic opportunities for connecting. Not only with old and new friends from the sector, but also with new initiatives and emerging trends. The immense power of feeling linked up and together in global lobby and advocacy actions cannot be underestimated.”
For more information see: https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org/
Day 1 recording
Day 2 recording