The Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat is a vital interface between global policies in the economic, social and environmental spheres and national action. The Department works in three main interlinked areas: (i) it compiles, generates and analyses a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and information on which States Members of the United Nations draw to review common problems and to take stock of policy options; (ii) it facilitates the negotiations of Member States in many intergovernmental bodies on joint courses of action to address ongoing or emerging global challenges; and (iii) it advises interested Governments on the ways and means of translating policy frameworks developed in United Nations conferences and summits into programmes at the country level and, through technical assistance, helps build national capacities.
The designations employed and the presentation of the material in the present publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitations of its frontiers. The term “country” as used in the text of this report also refers, as appropriate, to territories or areas. The designations of country groups in the text and the tables are intended solely for statistical or analytical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgement about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of the names of firms and commercial products does not imply the endorsement of the United Nations.
This report was drafted by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (SCRPD) of the Division for Social Policy and Development (DSPD), UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), with inputs from experts from academic institutions and international agencies.
Jürgen Menze, Stefan Tromel, Valentina Stoevska (ILO); Fredrik Ericsson (OECD); Arturo Requesens, Jean-Pierre Gonnot, Margaret Mbogoni, Keiko Osaki-Tomita (UNDESA); Irmgarda Kasinskaite, Mariana Kitsiona, Florence Migeon (UNESCO); Rosangela Berman Bieler, Anna Burlyaeva, Gopal Mitra, Tamara Rusinow, Lieve Sabbe, Megan T Tucker (UNICEF); Takashi Izutsu, Atsuro Tsutsumi (International Institute for Global Health, UN University); Maribel Derjani-Bayeh, Mary Keogh, Jeong Shim Lee, Sharon J. Taylor (UN-Women); Alarcos Cieza (WHO)
Mary Crock (University of Sidney); Rangita de Silva de Alwis (Wellesley Centers for Women, University of Pennsylvania); Roberto Foa (Harvard University); Daniel Mont (University College London); Victor Pineda (World Enabled)
Chapter 1.Introduction 7
Chapter 2.Historical overview of the UN’s work on disability and development 10
Establishment of the United Nations 11
A shift in perspective 12
Building momentum 13
UN development conferences 17
UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on Disability and Development and toward disability-inclusive 2013 global agenda for sustainable development 20
Conclusion 24
Chapter 3.Overview of the situation of persons with disabilities in development 25
3.1Defining disability 25
3.2Measuring disability and data collection 27
Why do we need data? 27
Different approaches to disability data collection 29
Status of internationally comparable disability data 31
3.3Prevalence of disability 32
3.3.1Global prevalence for adults 32
3.3.2Prevalence in children 34
3.3.3Prevalence among older persons 35
3.3.4Prevalence by sex 36
3.3.5Urban versus rural 36
3.3.6Prevalence by type of disability 37
3.4Overview of the socio-economic status of people with disabilities 39
3.5Accessibility as a pre-condition for inclusive and sustainable development 44
What is accessibility? 44
UN mandates on accessibility 46
Approaches to increase accessibility 48
a.Mainstreaming accessibility 48
b.Mixing bottom-up with top-down approaches 50
Accessibility: status and trends 51
a.Physical environment 51
Cost and benefits of accessibility 55
Accessible information and communication technologies 55
a.Web accessibility 56
b.Accessible mobile phones and services 58
Barriers 59
Conclusion and the way forward 60
Chapter 4.Disability as a cross-cutting issue for sustainable and inclusive development 61
4.1Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Spheres 61
4.1.1Education 61
UN mandates 61
What is inclusive education? 65
a.Inclusive curriculum 66
b.Inclusive assessment 66
Status and trends 67
Economic benefits from educating children with disabilities and promoting inclusive education 70
Measures taken to promote inclusive education 70
a.Legislation and policies 70
b.Approaches and models that promote inclusive education 72
Conclusion and the way forward 74
4.1.2Health and well-being 76
What is health and well-being? 76
UN mandates 78
Status and trends 79
a.Health status of persons with disabilities 79
b.Access to health care 80
c.Social determinants of health 80
d.Well-being 81
Conclusion and the way forward 81
4.1.3Employment 84
UN mandates 84
Status and trends 86
The economic costs of exclusion 89
Measures taken to promote employment among persons with disabilities 89
Conclusion and the way forward 94
4.1.4Social Protection 97
UN mandates 97
Social protection for persons with disabilities 100
Status of social protection for persons with disabilities 101
Conclusion and the way forward 103
4.2Other disadvantaged groups 106
4.2.1Women and girls with disabilities 106
UN mandates 106
Status and trends 108
Measures taken by countries to improve the participation of women and girls with disabilities 111
Conclusion and the way forward 115
4.2.2Children with disabilities 118
UN mandates 119
Status and trends 120
a.Birth registration 120
b.Poverty and children with disabilities 120
c.Institutionalisation 120
d.Children with disabilities are more vulnerable to neglect, exploitation and violence 121
e.Access to health care and assistive devices 122
f.Access to education 122
Measures taken by countries to improve inclusion 123
Conclusion and the way forward 124
4.2.3Youth with disabilities 127
UN mandates 128
Status and trends 128
a.Poverty 129
b.Education 129
c.Independent living and employment 130
d.Sexual and reproductive health 132
e.Families caring for youth with disabilities 133
f.Government support 134
g.Political participation of youth with disabilities 134
Conclusion and the way forward 135
4.2.4Older persons with disabilities 137
UN mandates 138
Status and trends 138
a.Economic Situation 138
b.Employment 139
c.Access to healthcare 140
d.Technological and Assistive Aids 140
Conclusion and the way forward 141
4.2.5Indigenous persons with disabilities 143
UN mandates 143
United Nations. Outcome document of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities: the way forward, a disability-inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond A/68/L.1. 17 September 2013. Para II. 4. (b). 218
Status and trends 144
Measures taken by countries to improve the situation of indigenous persons with disabilities 147
Conclusion and the way forward 152
4.2.6Refugees 154
Status and trends 154
Measures taken to improve the situation of refugees with disabilities 155
Conclusion and the way forward 156
4.2.7Persons with mental and intellectual disabilities 159
UN mandates 159
Status and trends 161
a.Availability and access to mental health services 162
b.Education 162
c.Employment 163
d.Disasters and humanitarian crises 163
Measures taken by countries to improve mental health and wellbeing 164
Conclusion and the way forward 164
4.3Examples of Emerging Issues in Disability and Development 167
4.3.1Disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and humanitarian response 167
UN mandates 167
Experience of persons with disabilities before, during and after disasters and conflicts 169
Conclusion and the way forward 171
4.3.2Persons with disabilities in human settlements and urban development 174
UN mandates 174
Status and trends 175
Measures taken by countries to enhance the situation of persons with disabilities in cities 176
Conclusion and the way forward 177
Chapter 5.The way forward: disability-inclusive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 180
5.1Sustainable Development Goals and disability 181
5.2Monitoring and evaluation 184
5.3Financing for disability-inclusive development 188
5.4Disability-inclusive international development cooperation 190
Endnotes 192