Jose Viera, World Blind Union, Human Rights and Development Policy Advisor
UN-DESA Division for Sustainable Development Advancing the 2030 Agenda: Interlinkages and Common Themes at the HLPF 2018
An expert group meeting in preparation for HLPF 2018: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies
25-26 January 2018 United Nations Headquarters, New York Room S-2726
SESSION 7 SDG 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Who we are: Persons with disabilities comprise an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population, or one billion people, of whom 80 per cent live in developing countries and are overrepresented among those living in absolute poverty. Persons with disabilities often encounter discrimination and exclusion on a daily basis. This means, in particular, pervasive exclusion from development programmes and funds, as well as all areas of economic, political, social, civil and cultural life, including employment, education and healthcare. Many built environments, including housing, transport and information systems are not yet accessible to persons with disabilities. Lack of access to transportation is a frequent reason for a person with a disability being discouraged from seeking work or prevented from accessing healthcare or education. Information is rarely available in accessible formats, including sign languages, and there are access barriers for basic products and services such as telephones, television and the internet. Explicit references to Persons with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities are referenced 11 times in the 2030 Agenda. 3 instances in the Declaration. 7instances in the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. 1 instance in Follow-up and review. SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (two explicit references to persons with disabilities). 18 references to ‘vulnerable populations”. All inclusive language links to persons with disabilities (encompasses both a and b, and more areas of the Agenda). Interlinkages between SDG 11 and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): Article 9 – Accessibility. Article 11 - Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. Article 19 - Living independently and being included in the community. Article 28 - Adequate standard of living and social protection. Article 30 - Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. When is the SDG 11 achieved for persons with disabilities: Cities and human settlements are livable, inclusive, accessible with universal design principles that can lead to a safer, more resilient world for all. There is inclusion and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management programmes (Sendai Framework and Dhaka Declaration). Local authorities include persons with disabilities in their programs and policies. Budget allocation to ensure inclusive, safe and accessible urban and rural areas. New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 13 (A and B) (social and ecological function and social cohesion). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 20 (multiple forms of discrimination). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 36 (equal access by persons with disabilities to services and facilities in urban and rural areas). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 37 (safe shared space for pedestrians) (safe, inclusive and accesible silent cars) (accesible, inclusive and safe smart cities). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 50 (connecting urban and rural areas for better social productivity and inclusion). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraphs 106, 107 and 108 (equal access by persons with disabilities to housing programs). Recommendations:
Promote universal design and remove barriers to public accommodation, transport, information, and communication to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in education, employment and social life; in line with CRPD Articles 9, 11, 19, 21 (e), 24, 27, 28 and 30, e.g. access to ICTs, in order to enable communication, promotion of sign languages and forms other than traditional written and verbal communication. All such investment and infra-structure development should be guided by the principle of ecologically sustainability and universal design. Carry out global, regional and national data collection, capacity building and disaggregation of data by disability. Keep updated registries of persons with disabilities when permitted by law in order to locate persons with disabilities in disasters. In situations that directories are unavailable or not permitted, engage local communities, particularly local organizations of persons with disabilities, to intentionally and specifically locate persons with disabilities in disasters and to assist them. Take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transport, to information and communications, including information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open, or provided to, the public, both in urban and in rural areas.
An expert group meeting in preparation for HLPF 2018: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies
25-26 January 2018 United Nations Headquarters, New York Room S-2726
SESSION 7 SDG 11: Making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Who we are: Persons with disabilities comprise an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population, or one billion people, of whom 80 per cent live in developing countries and are overrepresented among those living in absolute poverty. Persons with disabilities often encounter discrimination and exclusion on a daily basis. This means, in particular, pervasive exclusion from development programmes and funds, as well as all areas of economic, political, social, civil and cultural life, including employment, education and healthcare. Many built environments, including housing, transport and information systems are not yet accessible to persons with disabilities. Lack of access to transportation is a frequent reason for a person with a disability being discouraged from seeking work or prevented from accessing healthcare or education. Information is rarely available in accessible formats, including sign languages, and there are access barriers for basic products and services such as telephones, television and the internet. Explicit references to Persons with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities are referenced 11 times in the 2030 Agenda. 3 instances in the Declaration. 7instances in the Sustainable Development Goals and targets. 1 instance in Follow-up and review. SDG 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (two explicit references to persons with disabilities). 18 references to ‘vulnerable populations”. All inclusive language links to persons with disabilities (encompasses both a and b, and more areas of the Agenda). Interlinkages between SDG 11 and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): Article 9 – Accessibility. Article 11 - Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. Article 19 - Living independently and being included in the community. Article 28 - Adequate standard of living and social protection. Article 30 - Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport. When is the SDG 11 achieved for persons with disabilities: Cities and human settlements are livable, inclusive, accessible with universal design principles that can lead to a safer, more resilient world for all. There is inclusion and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management programmes (Sendai Framework and Dhaka Declaration). Local authorities include persons with disabilities in their programs and policies. Budget allocation to ensure inclusive, safe and accessible urban and rural areas. New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 13 (A and B) (social and ecological function and social cohesion). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 20 (multiple forms of discrimination). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 36 (equal access by persons with disabilities to services and facilities in urban and rural areas). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 37 (safe shared space for pedestrians) (safe, inclusive and accesible silent cars) (accesible, inclusive and safe smart cities). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraph 50 (connecting urban and rural areas for better social productivity and inclusion). New Urban Agenda UN Habitat III Paragraphs 106, 107 and 108 (equal access by persons with disabilities to housing programs). Recommendations:
Promote universal design and remove barriers to public accommodation, transport, information, and communication to facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in education, employment and social life; in line with CRPD Articles 9, 11, 19, 21 (e), 24, 27, 28 and 30, e.g. access to ICTs, in order to enable communication, promotion of sign languages and forms other than traditional written and verbal communication. All such investment and infra-structure development should be guided by the principle of ecologically sustainability and universal design. Carry out global, regional and national data collection, capacity building and disaggregation of data by disability. Keep updated registries of persons with disabilities when permitted by law in order to locate persons with disabilities in disasters. In situations that directories are unavailable or not permitted, engage local communities, particularly local organizations of persons with disabilities, to intentionally and specifically locate persons with disabilities in disasters and to assist them. Take appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, to transport, to information and communications, including information and communication technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open, or provided to, the public, both in urban and in rural areas.