The European Disability Forum (EDF) and the Global Disability Summit (GDS) Secretariat embarked on an extensive consultative process to ensure the voices of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations— are central to discussions on global inclusion. The process, part of the lead up to t the European Regional Disability Summit 2024 and Global Disability Summit 2025, included a series of online consultations and a comprehensive survey.
Between February and July 2024, EDF received 47 survey responses in six languages and convened three consultation meetings with over 100 participants. These results were translated into a series of key priorities and recommendations to guide governments and organisations in the European region on disability-inclusive international cooperation and humanitarian action .
Key commitments for inclusive International Cooperation and Humanitarian Action
We identified 11 overarching commitments designed to guide governments and partners in Europe and Central Asia to make impactful commitments at the Global Disability Summit 2025. These include:
- Mainstream disability inclusion in development cooperation
- Promote local leadership and participation of organisations of persons with disabilities
- Support Deinstitutionalisation and Independent Living
- Advance inclusive education and employment
- Enhance data collection for Evidence-Based Policy
- Promote accessibility in all sectors
- Implement gender and intersectionality approaches
- Increase funding for OPDs and disability-focused projects
- Strengthen climate resilience by centering disability leadership in risk reduction and adaptation
- Strengthen protection mechanisms for persons with disabilities in conflict zones and humanitarian crises
- Advocate for consistency in disability rights implementation
Explore the full results from the survey and consultation meetings.
Call to Action: urge your governments to commit to global inclusion
As we approach the Global Disability Summit 2025, we calls on European leaders to commit to these principles to an inclusive, sustainable future. EDF has created a toolkit to support organisations of persons in disabilities in advocating for their governments’ commitments at the Summit, with step-by-step instructions and resources .
For more information, contact Erika Hudson, International Cooperation Officer, erika.hudson@edf-feph.org