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At the opening of the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed delivered a powerful message: the rights of persons with disabilities are not optional. They are universal, non-negotiable, and must be realised in every society, including across the African continent.
The conference, held in New York, focused on three key themes: financing disability inclusion, harnessing technology, and promoting the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities. These priorities reflect both global and regional concerns as countries assess their progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Africa’s Disability Inclusion Challenge
Africa is home to an estimated 80 million persons with disabilities, many of whom face multiple, compounding barriers to education, employment, healthcare and political participation. The Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks highlighted that nearly all Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators for persons with disabilities are off track, a concern echoed in the 2023 United Nations Disability and Development Report. The report found that persons with disabilities worldwide experience higher poverty rates, increased unemployment, greater food and health insecurity, and limited access to education and technology.
In African countries, these disparities are often magnified by under-resourced health systems, weak disability data collection, conflict, and the ongoing impacts of climate change. Amina Mohammed underlined the urgent need for targeted investments, such as microfinance initiatives, social impact bonds, and public-private partnerships that can help address these systemic gaps. Yet, global funding for disability inclusion has halved in just two years, from 500 million US dollars to 250 million US dollars.
This decline in support threatens to roll back hard-won progress, particularly in African nations where disability rights remain underfunded and under-prioritised. The situation calls for renewed commitment to recapitalising multilateral development banks and reforming the global financial architecture to allow developing countries to build inclusive systems.
The Promise and Peril of Technology
The digital divide remains a pressing issue across Africa. As global attention turns to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), the potential of assistive technologies is vast. Tools such as screen readers, real-time captioning and AI-powered navigation support could transform daily life for persons with disabilities.
However, Mohammed warned that AI also risks reinforcing existing inequalities. Currently, around 70 per cent of AI-powered assistive technologies are concentrated in developed countries. Without fair and equitable technology transfer, people in low-income countries, particularly in Africa, risk being left behind again. The Global Digital Compact must therefore ensure that emerging technologies empower all people, including those with disabilities.
Africa’s technology and innovation landscape holds promise. From mobile-based education apps to AI for sign-language recognition, several African tech startups are addressing accessibility. But these efforts require scaled-up investment and regulation to ensure they meet international accessibility standards.
Indigenous Voices at the Margins
This year’s conference placed a spotlight on the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities, a population that is often invisible in policy frameworks. In Africa, Indigenous communities such as the Batwa, Maasai and San often live in remote areas with limited access to health, education and legal services. For those among them who also have disabilities, the intersection of exclusion becomes even more pronounced.
Mohammed emphasised that this is not merely neglect but erasure. She called for culturally appropriate services and the meaningful inclusion of Indigenous persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
The Cost of Conflict
Africa continues to grapple with armed conflicts in countries such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and the Sahel region. Conflicts often leave many civilians with lasting injuries and trauma. The Deputy Secretary-General cited Gaza as having the highest number of child amputees in modern history. African war zones are producing similarly devastating consequences, including increased disability among affected populations.
This raises critical questions about post-conflict reconstruction. Will African states rebuild with inclusion and accessibility in mind? Will persons with disabilities be consulted and involved in peacebuilding and development efforts? These are questions that this conference, and future international forums, must continue to address.
A Call to Action
The 18th session of the CRPD Conference comes at a pivotal time. As the world looks towards the upcoming International Conference on Financing for Development and the second World Summit for Social Development, Africa must ensure that disability inclusion is part of its national and continental agendas.
As Amina Mohammed reminded delegates, inclusion is not just a moral obligation. It is a matter of common sense. When persons with disabilities are empowered to fully participate in society, economies grow, communities thrive, and democracy deepens.
The rallying cry remains clear: nothing about us without us. For Africa, this means strengthening domestic policies, securing sustainable financing, investing in inclusive technologies, and protecting the rights of the most marginalised. The continent has come a long way, but much remains to be done. Rights are not optional, and the time to act is now.
