More than 1.3 billion persons with disabilities, or 16% of the global population, are among the most marginalized groups globally. Persons with disabilities experience a range of health inequities, including earlier deaths, poorer health and higher disease risk, due to unfair and avoidable factors within and beyond the health sector, such as lack of access to quality health services, inaccessible physical environments, negative attitudes of health workers, costs of services, societal stigma and discrimination.
Thus, Sweden, the International Disability Alliance, the UN Global Disability Fund (formally the UNPRPD) and the International Disability and Development Consortium jointly hosted a Thematic Pre-Summit on Health equity for persons with disabilities, leading up to the Global Disability Summit 2025.
The objective of the Thematic Pre-Summit was to galvanize recognition that disability inclusion is fundamental to the success of achieving health and well-being for all. This recognition is essential to build momentum and to catalyse the political prioritization needed for heads of states and governments, ministers of health, heads of agencies and international organizations, the private sector, and civil society leaders to ensure health equity for persons with disabilities.
International Sign Language interpretation, and live captioning and interpretation into the 6 UN official languages were available.
A closer look at Global Disability Summit health commitments.
Find out more about Global Disability Summit 2025.
UN Global Disability Fund communiqué.