HI, Alarmed by Disproportionate Aid Cuts Affecting Persons with Disabilities, Urges States to Uphold Inclusion in International Cooperation

On the occasion of the 3rd Global Disability Summit, civil society organizations, such as HI, are joining Organizations of Persons with Disabilities in urging governments to systematically and demonstrably fulfill the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) through concrete implementation plans.

The third Global Disability Summit, known as the GDS, will take place in Berlin on April 2-3, bringing together governments, donors, United Nations agencies, and civil society organizations to promote the rights of people with disabilities and foster a more inclusive world. This Summit occurs when many states have decided on drastic funding cuts for international aid. It will notably include inclusive health, inclusive education, and inclusive humanitarian action, which are fundamental pillars of HI's action. Many governments will attend the Global Disability Summit, including those who recently cut their aid budget:

Blandine Bouniol, HI Advocacy Deputy Director, affirms, “We hope that States participating in the Global Disability Summit will have more to propose than funding cuts! Aggravating inequalities and undermining the stability of societies cannot be the project we offer to the world.”

The 2025 GDS will take place one year before the 20th anniversary of adopting the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a UN treaty that promotes and protects the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities, to which HI was a major contributor.

A special emphasis will be placed on Article 11 (Situations of Risk and Humanitarian Emergencies) and Article 32 (International Cooperation) of the CRPD. These articles aim to ensure that international development and humanitarian efforts are inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities.

Whereas the 2018 Global Disability Summit marked a milestone in international efforts to advance the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, this Summit presents a unique opportunity to enhance understanding of disability, heighten awareness of the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and promote inclusive policies, particularly in low— and middle-income countries. Women and girls with disabilities face double discrimination due to their disability status and their gender.

Statistics show that 1.3 billion people, which is equal to 16% of the world’s population, experience significant disability and often face discrimination and exclusion.

HI, which has worked alongside people with disabilities for more than 40 years, calls on States to support international assistance and reaffirm their commitment to the inclusion and rights of persons with disabilities.

International Aid Cuts

The U.S. has reduced its international aid funding by 80%. Other public donors, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, are drastically cutting their international aid budgets. Germany’s outgoing coalition government—formerly the leading European donor—plans to slash humanitarian support by more than half, from €2.23 billion in 2024 to €1.04 billion this year. France has already reduced its Official Development Assistance (ODA) by nearly €800 million in 2024 and plans a further 18% cut between 2024 and 2025. The European Commission will also reduce the funds allocated to the world's poorest countries by 35%.

The impact on development and humanitarian aid, specifically on support for people with disabilities, who often live in low-income countries and are among the most vulnerable and discriminated against populations, will be devastating.

Blandine Bouniol, HI Advocacy Deputy Director, says,

“Donors are drastically reducing their funding, and states are withdrawing from international aid. This short-sighted policy will have a devastating impact on people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, increasing the risk of exclusion and impoverishment. We cannot see decades of progress in people with disabilities' rights and inclusion going to waste. She continues, “Working towards a more inclusive and sustainable world is a smart investment in our common future. We urge states to continue supporting international aid and to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”

• 80% of people with disabilities reside in low- and middle-income countries.
• 20% of the world’s poorest people have some disabilities and tend to be regarded as the most disadvantaged. 
• Available data shows that the proportion of people with disabilities living below the poverty line is higher and, in some countries, double that of people without disabilities. 
• In many countries, more than 80% of people with disabilities who need welfare services cannot receive them. 
• Only 5–15% of persons in low- and middle-income countries receive the necessary assistive devices.

HI, a Global Key Player in Inclusion

HI supports people with disabilities through various activities, including physical and functional rehabilitation, health equity, protection, inclusive education, economic and social inclusion, and the overall promotion of disability rights in 59 countries worldwide. HI reaffirms its unwavering commitment to promoting the rights of people with disabilities. In 2023, HI supported: 

• 536,309 persons with disabilities through rehabilitation services and assistive technologies. 
• 858,769 through health services. 
• 850,439 through social and inclusion services. 

These achievements were made possible through collaborations with the 106 organizations of people with disabilities (OPDs) with which HI worked in 2023.

Hervé Bernard, HI Social & Inclusion Manager, says, "Inclusion projects – like the one that supported Flore for a hairdressing business - have shown excellent results, allowing better inclusion of people with disabilities in their communities and major improvements in their daily lives, allowing them to gain more autonomy and self-resilience. What will happen to Flore and any other person with a disability if this type of project is no longer funded?"

Spokespersons are available for interviews upon media request.