In 2015, United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that target a range of International development outcomes such as access to water, sanitation, maternal and child health etc gave way to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unlike the MDGs, the SDGs are more specifically inclusive of people with disabilities. It is amidst this backdrop that Disabled People's International's 9th World Assembly will be held on 11th-13th April this year and will focus on ‘Building Human Capital: Realizing SDGs for Persons with Disabilities’.
“If we want disability to be a part of the post-2015 development agenda, then the grassroots leaders will have to be empowered as the role of people with disabilities and their organizations assume paramount importance. The aim is to create a platform for exchange of best practices across nations, to equip and train leadership from grassroots level organisations, so they can effectively advocate and align with their Governments,” says Javed Abidi, Global Chair, Disabled People's International (DPI).
DPI, which is a network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, was established to promote human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. Every four years, DPI holds a World Assembly, where all of DPI’s members from over 100 countries gather to discuss and share information about critical issues affecting disabled individuals and their communities, make proposals, and assess the various empowerment models. “The opportunity to host the DPI World Assembly presents India with an opportunity to increase awareness of the need to take policy making to the global south," he added. The Disabled People's International 9th World Assembly will be held in Delhi, India from 11th to 13th April.
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