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Disability and the Millennium Development Goals

Quote

"Unless disabled people are brought into the development mainstream, it will be impossible to cut poverty in half by 2015 or to give every girl and boy the chance to achieve a primary education by the same date which are key among the Millennium Development Goals agreed to by more than 180 world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000."

Former World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn
Washington Post
December 3, 2002


Globe

Number 1 Eradicate Hunger and Poverty

Disability and poverty are intertwined. In fact, the qualitative evident suggests that disabled people are significantly poor in developing countries, and more so than non-disabled counterpart. Many people with disabilities are denied education or jobs, the disorder may require chronic health care and these in turn drain the scarce household resources.

Number 2Achieve Primary Universal Education

Very often, children with disabilities are not recognized, get frustrated with school and drop out. In the US, it has been found that the majority of children who repeat classes or drop out of school have emotional or intellectual disabilities. This in turn makes it impossible to achieve the goal of Universal Primary Education unless the health aspects are taken into account.

Number 3Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

Disabled women are more likely to be victims of sexual abuse. Violence against women causes psychological disabilities, and some disabilities – such as obstetric fistula – are particularly stigmatizing.

Number 4Reduce Child Mortality

Children with disabilities at higher risk of dying because of medical conditions, but also because of lack of access to public services, and intense stigma – even within their own homes.

Number 5Improve Maternal Health

Important for prevention, and moreover disabled women have less access to public health info, placing them at greater risk of unwanted pregnancies and HIV/AIDS.

Number 6Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases

AIDS and other contagious diseases can, in and of themselves, be disabling. However, most significantly, efforts to halt these epidemics frequently do not encompass disabled people, putting disabled people at higher risk of contracting these diseases.

Number 7Ensure Environmental Sustainability

Environmental dangers can lead to the onset of many types of disabilities, and inaccessible environments prevent disabled people from taking part in economic and social activities.

Number 8Develop a Global Partnership for Development

A partnership implies inclusion, which means everyone.
ArrowArrowClick to learn about the Global Partnership for Disability and Development.

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Last updated: 2009-08-20




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