2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030-Agenda) is a political framework that has been signed by all 193 member states of the United Nations in September 2015. World leaders have committed to achieving 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030 for a better future for People, Planet and Prosperity.

Persons with disabilities are explicitly mentioned in SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) of the Agenda. This is an important reminder to those responsible for the implementation of the 2030-Agenda not to forget, but to intentionally and effectively target persons with disabilities. However, mentioning persons with disabilities doesn’t guarantee their consideration in implementation efforts. Persons with disabilities must benefit from implementation efforts across all 17 SDGs, regardless of whether they are explicitly mentioned or not.

The leading principle of the 2030-Agenda is Leave No One Behind (LNOB). It guides all implementation efforts, across all SDGs. You can find it in the introductory declaration of the 2030-Agenda: “(a)s we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind. Recognising that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, we wish to see the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society. And we will endeavour to reach the furthest behind first.” The Leave No One Behind and Reach the Furthest Behind principles are important commitments for persons with disabilities who are very often among those left furthest behind.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development follows the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that UN member states committed to in 2010. These were only imperfectly reached by 2015. The 2030-Agenda is likely to be followed by a new political framework in 2030. It will be critically important that persons with disabilities have an active role in the development as well as the implementation of this new Agenda.