It has been estimated that there are over 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. Within the Commonwealth 60% of the population are young people aged under 29 years, taking this into account with figures from WHO estimating that worldwide 1 in 6 people experience significant disability.
During the Global Disability Summit 2025, Children & Young People with Disabilities reaffirmed a Call To Action for the Global Disability Children and Young People’s Charter (GDCYPC) #2030.
The GDCYPC has been developed by children and youth with disabilities worldwide in collaboration with the Commonwealth Children & Youth Disability Network (CCYDN), Minority Rights Group International, the Global Network of Young People with Disabilities, Include Me TOO, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. It builds on the advocacy momentum of past Global Disability Summits in 2018 and 2022, where children and youth with disabilities have continued to champion their human rights and inclusion.
The GDCYPC outlines 16 commitments and the call for action from children and youth with disabilities urging action to meet the SDG targets in key areas, including poverty reduction, health, education, safeguarding, employment, social protection, gender equality, climate action, and reducing inequalities:
The GDCYPC’s 16 Commitments
Commitment 1: Provide inclusive education, lifelong learning, and development.
Commitment 2: Ensure meaningful participation, representation in political and public life, and in decision making processes.
Commitment 3: Promote and enhance gender equality.
Commitment 4: Ensure safeguarding from all forms of abuse and harmful practices.
Commitment 5: Promote inclusive and accessible communities.
Commitment 6: Affordable and accessible digital and assistive technologies to enhance access to opportunities and independence.
Commitment 7: Promote accessible and inclusive employment opportunities.
Commitment 8: Remove stigma and discrimination.
Commitment 9: Ensure support, wellbeing, and access to social protections.
Commitment 10: Inclusive assistance in humanitarian action.
Commitment 11: Enhance disability rights implementation through legislation and policy development.
Commitment 12: Collect disaggregated data to understand children and young peoples’ disability experiences through intersectional lens.
Commitment 13: Ensure access to inclusive health and social care.
Commitment 14 Promote accessible communication and information.
Commitment 15: Promote independent living with the right support and resources.
Commitment 16: Promote participation of children and young people to engage in tackling climate change.
To send a powerful message: that the voices of children and youth with disabilities and their Call TO Action has been heard and taken seriously, ACLW fully endorses this call for action to re-affirm commitments to the Global Disability Children’s and Young People’s Charter 2030 (GDCYPC).
There are only 5 years left to meet the SDG’s #2030. It is imperative that all of the 16 commitments are actioned as children and youth with disabilities face a range of intersectional challenges globally affecting their daily lives, and future aspirations.