Disability in the post-2015 framework

Despite representing over one billion people worldwide, the economic and social potential of persons with disabilities to make significant contributions towards achieving global development targets has so far been lost.

It is evident that the implied inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) has not resulted in their inclusion in development activities; for example, only an estimated 3-4 per cent of persons with disabilities are believed to benefit from international aid programs (AusAid, 2011). Not only have persons with disabilities not benefitted from much of the progress brought about by the MDG, but their living standards may have been declining in relative terms (UN, 2010).

This paper argues that the absence of specific reference to disability in the MDGs has resulted in the increased marginalisation of persons with disabilities and is contributing towards growing inequalities that are slowing progress at sub-national levels (UNDESA, 2012).