Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Global Disability Summit in April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The 2025 Global Disability Summit is an important moment for the UK to reinforce our commitment to galvanising international efforts on disability inclusion and launch the refresh of our FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy (2022-30), setting out new priorities. The Cabinet Office and FCDO are working closely together to draw up the UK's delegation and final decisions will be made soon.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he is having with disabled people to help ensure that their views are represented at the Global Disability Summit in Berlin on 2-3 April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy was developed in extensive consultation with the disability movement, including Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). The 2025 Global Disability Summit will be co-hosted by Germany, Jordan and the International Disability Alliance, which represents OPDs and works to amplify their voice around the world. FCDO officials have engaged with the Summit co-hosts to share the UK's experience of hosting the 2018 Global Disability Summit, reinforcing the importance of positioning the voice and rights of people with disabilities at its heart. I met the BOND Disability and Development Group in early January to discuss FCDO priorities and the Global Disability Summit. I also incorporated consultation with OPDs in my travel schedule, including meeting an organisation of women with disabilities in South Sudan.
Asked by: Richard Baker (Labour - Glenrothes and Mid Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his priorities are for the third Global Disability Summit in April 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to accelerating the pace of progress on disability inclusion globally. In a context of increased conflict and crises in which people with disabilities are disproportionally affected, disability must not fall down the political agenda. At the Global Disability Summit in April 2025, the FCDO will reinforce our commitment to galvanising international efforts on disability inclusion and launch the refresh of our FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights strategy, setting out new priorities. The voice and rights of people with disabilities will remain a core focus of the strategy and our global work on disability inclusion, as guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).