Disability charter endorsed at World Humanitarian Summit

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."