Introduction

International Telecommunication Union

doi:http://handle.itu.int/11.1002/pub/80959089-4bbc694a-en

The ICT Opportunity for a Disability-Inclusive Development Framework

This publication contributes to a better understanding of the extent to which ICTs can enable and accelerate the social and economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. It lists challenges that are still to be addressed while outlining concrete actions to be undertaken by each group of stakeholders and a set of indicators to help measure progress towards the achievement of a disability-inclusive post-2015 development agenda and framework. The report is the result of collaborative input from the UN Broadband Commission for Digital Development, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, the International Disability Alliance, ITU, Microsoft, the Telecentre.org Foundation and UNESCO. For more information, please visit www.itu.int/accessibility.

English

http://handle.itu.int/11.1002/pub/80959089-en

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Chapter

Introduction

Including persons with disabilities in all aspects of society is one of the remaining challenges of the global development agenda. The widespread adoption of the United Nations Conventioni on the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2006 heralded a major step forward in advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities, turning their socio-economic exclusion into a human rights issue. The UNCRPD places significant obligations on all state officials responsible for equal access to education and employment opportunities. With 155 signatoriesii and 130 ratificationsiii to the UNCRPD, the Convention is on its way to becoming a truly universal framework for policy, legislation and regulation championing the rights of persons with disabilities. As this process continues, all stakeholders are focusing their attention on advancing its implementation, putting special emphasis on including specific references, actions and goals aimed at further integrating persons with disabilities into the new international development agenda. This new framework will come into force after 2015, the deadline established for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).