DPI has long argued that development efforts fail when they exclude persons with disabilities. When the Millennium Development Goals were adopted in 2000 they contained no direct reference to disability. DPI published a position paper on the MDGs in June 2010 and contributed to the High-level Plenary Meeting of the UN General Assembly that year.
The 2030 Agenda
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development marks a shift. Its preamble states that no one will be left behind and that all people, including persons with disabilities, will take part in realising the Goals; disability is referred to directly in seven of the targets. DPI regards the explicit “leave no one behind” commitment as a major achievement of the global disability movement, and continues to press for indicators that capture the disadvantages caused by disability — especially in relation to poverty, inclusive education, employment, independent living, social protection and accessibility.
Disability-inclusive development cooperation
DPI calls for development cooperation that is disability-inclusive by design, for accessible technology and information in all local languages, and for persons with disabilities to be recognised as contributors and partners — not only as beneficiaries.