How were the Goals created?
More than 20 years ago the United Nations brought together leaders from 189 countries. They agreed to work on world issues like poverty and hunger. They set goals for the progress they wanted to make by 2015. These were called the Millennium Development Goals.
Positive changes happened, but the work wasn’t finished by 2015. The countries decided to keep working together and set new goals. They would work on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from 2015 to 2030.
What do the Goals have to do with disability in Canada?
The Sustainable Development Goals work on many issues that impact people with disabilities:
- Having enough money to live
- Having enough food to eat
- Having good health care
- Getting a good education
- Getting a good job
- Being treated equally
Disability is mentioned 11 times in the Goals. They talk about people with disabilities being included at school, at work, and in social and political life. Affordable, accessible transportation and inclusive public spaces are also included. They explain how facts and numbers about disability must be tracked to measure success.
Governments have a legal responsibility to work towards the Goals. For-profit businesses do not. Some for-profit businesses choose to consider the Goals because it’s important to their customers and investors.
What happens after 2030?
There are only 5 more years until the Sustainable Development Goals agreement ends. In September 2024, the United Nations is holding an event to talk about the future. The event is called Summit of the Future.
During this event, countries will adopt a new agreement to take them beyond 2030. The agreement is called Pact for the Future. Work has already begun on writing this new agreement.
Inclusion Canada and other disability groups are worried that disability is being overlooked in this agreement. We are working to make sure the voices of people with disabilities are included in the agreement.
What does Pact for the Future say about disability?
Two drafts of the Pact for the Future have been released so far. The first version didn’t talk about disability at all. Because of advocacy from disability groups, the second version is a little better.
It talks about quality inclusive education, universal health coverage, and decent work for all. It explains that no one should be ‘left behind’, and specifically mentions people with disabilities.
It also talks about eliminating barriers for young people with disabilities. And it recommends investing in assistive technology to support their full and equal participation in society.
Other sections use words like “equal access” and “social inclusion” but don’t talk about people with disabilities. Here are some examples:
- Action 5. We will strengthen our efforts to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and respect human rights.
- Action 33. We will promote equal opportunities for all young people, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized, protect them from violence, and foster social inclusion and integration.
Inclusion Canada thinks these sections would be stronger if they clearly talked about people with disabilities.
What should be included in the next draft?
We know that barriers to inclusion extend beyond just education, health, and employment. Pact for the Future should include disability when talking about anything that impacts the lives of people with disabilities. Because people with disabilities are a diverse group of humans, the reality is that almost everything impacts the life of someone with a disability. They must be considered and represented throughout Pact for the Future. Some international groups recommend adding this sentence to Pact for the Future:
“We commit to ensuring that persons with disabilities actively participate in and equally benefit from sustainable development efforts.”
This sentence originally came from a Political Declaration adopted during the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit.
Adding this sentence would achieve two things:
- It ensures that people with disabilities are part of the process. This fits with the phrase “Nothing About Us, Without Us”
- It ensures that people with disabilities get the same positive results as everyone else. Any sustainable development efforts that help people with disabilities also help people with disabilities.
How does this international work impact people with disabilities and their families?
The United Nations and international agreements can feel very distant from our everyday lives. In some ways, they are. But this international work also influences how the Government of Canada spends its time and money.
When Canada signs an international agreement it usually comes with commitments. And the government must report on its progress. This keeps the government focused and accountable. Having disability included in international agreements is an important way to keep the government focused on the needs of people with disabilities. Inclusion Canada monitors this progress as part of our human rights work. We help keep the government accountable, and our community informed.
