Credits: Global Disability Summit
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Official link: https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org 

The Global Disability Summit (GDS) is scheduled for April 2nd-3rd, 2025, in Berlin, with the Governments of Germany and Jordan co-hosting alongside the International Disability Alliance (IDA). This summit, which will offer both in-person and virtual attendance options, is expected to attract a significant number of global leaders and stakeholders committed to advancing disability rights and inclusion.

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Since its inception in 2017, the GDS has evolved into a continuous advocacy platform that extends beyond its biennial gatherings, engaging global, regional, and national entities focused on disability-inclusive development and humanitarian action. The summit has been instrumental in bridging the gap between disability inclusion and development cooperation, fostering a more integrated approach to these critical issues.

The inaugural summit in 2018 in London saw about 1,200 delegates, while the digital format of the 2022 summit in Oslo facilitated participation by over 7,000 individuals. The 2025 summit aims to build upon these achievements by further amplifying the impact of the summit’s initiatives. Key focuses include empowering organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to have a direct influence on the commitments made at the summit, ensuring these commitments are responsive to the priorities of persons with disabilities.

GDS 2025 will emphasize the implementation of actionable solutions, showcasing successful practices and addressing the realities of discrimination and rights deprivation affecting more than one billion people worldwide. The summit plans to employ creative and interactive methods to present these issues, aiming to challenge stereotypes and foster global learning.

In alignment with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), the summit will advocate for the systemic implementation of international obligations into effective policies that respect, promote, and fulfill human rights. This approach is intended to reinforce the summit’s broader objectives of more closely integrating disability inclusion with global development agendas and ensuring that disability rights are a sustained focus in international cooperation and national policy agendas.

With a robust program and an expected diverse attendance, GDS 2025 is poised to be a pivotal event in advancing global disability equality, enhancing collaborative efforts, and catalyzing essential changes to ensure a more inclusive world for all.