Disability Inclusion

The realization of the rights of persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Promoting disability inclusion across the work of the United Nations system is critical for upholding human rights and supporting Member States in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future.

CEB is committed to promoting disability inclusion, upholding human rights, and ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities are respected. The Board recognizes the importance of systematically embedding the rights of persons with disabilities in the work of the United Nations system in order to effectively and consistently deliver disability‑inclusive results on sustainable development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

In 2019, CEB endorsed the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), providing the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion across all pillars of the work of the United Nations and setting in motion a process of advancing disability inclusion in the United Nations system. HLCM also issued a statement in which the organizations of the UN system pledged their commitment to promoting disability inclusion across programming and operations and to building organizations that are accessible to and inclusive of all persons. (CEB/2019/3 - Annex I)

An independent system-wide evaluation of UNDIS implementation carried out in 2025 recommended a revision of UNDIS and identified priority areas for improvement. Following an extensive consultation process, the United Nations Disability Inclusions Strategy 2.0 (UNDIS 2.0) was developed as a strengthened tool for the United Nations system, entities and country teams to promote disability inclusion, combining a system-wide policy and an accountability framework. UNDIS 2.0 replaces the first UNDIS.

In May 2026, CEB endorsed the United Nations Disability Inclusions Strategy 2.0 (2026-2030), following the approval of the strategy by HLCP and HLCM.

For more information on the efforts of mainstreaming disability inclusion across the UN System, see the UN website page on the Strategy

  • High-level Committee on Programmes (HLCP)
  • High-level Committee on Management (HLCM)

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