Disability charter endorsed at World Humanitarian Summit
CBM, with partners, participates in the first ever World Humanitarian Summit, promoting inclusion of persons with disabilities. At the event, a groundgreaking new charter was endorsed, which will underpin the rights to equal access to aid and participation in humanitarian decision-making for persons with disabilities.
Launch of historic charter
The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) took place on 23-24 May in Istanbul, Turkey.
CBM participated with other organisations in advocacy leading up to the event, and in the production of the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action’. This historic document was launched at the Special Session on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. During the session CBM committed to support its dissemination and implementation, referring specifically to the relationships we already have in place with our partners and how this system of working will facilitate mutual capacity-building between Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and humanitarian stakeholders.
CBM also participated in other events during the conference, with ERU Director Valerie Scherrer moderating Disability side event “Strengthening visibility, inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action”.
During one of the plenary sessions, a joint disability group statement was read by Colin Allen, Vice Chair of International Disability Alliance (IDA). His speech included the following key points:
"This partnership between DPOs, humanitarian and human rights organisations is crucial as a first step towards inclusive humanitarian action. "The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as a human rights and development framework, not only obligates States Parties to ensure inclusive humanitarian action—it tells us how to do so. And it says, loud and clear, that persons with disabilities must be involved and consulted in decision-making processes that impact our lives.
" Leave no one behind requires all of us to work together to ensure that persons with disabilities no longer face barriers. It means policy-making and humanitarian structures such as lifesaving services, relief operations and information and services before, during and after a crisis occurs. It must be considered a core component of principled humanitarian action."
The World Humanitarian Summit and disability inclusion
On 23rd and 24th of May 2016, the first ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) will take place in Istanbul, Turkey
Read more
Humanitarian Action
CBM working with local partners to ensure that people with disabilities are included at all levels of disaster preparedness and response
Read more