67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities

International Day for Persons with Disabilities

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Overview

International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held on 3 December every year, was established by the United Nations in 1992. It aims to "promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life."

The CPA works to empower persons with disabilities in a number of ways. The mission of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, established by the CPA in 2017, is:

to encourage Commonwealth Parliaments to enable effective and full participation of persons with disabilities at all levels.

Disability is also one of the six thematic priorities in the CPA's Strategic Plan 2022-2025. We are committed to mainstreaming disability considerations throughout our operations and workstreams.

CPA Resources: Accessibility

Browse CPwD resources

Online Course: Making Parliaments Accessible

From the CPA Parliamentary Academy

This course is designed for elected or appointed parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. Throughout the course you will explore how to make your parliament accessible. It will focus on accessible communication strategies, unmasking misconceptions around disability and the importance of international frameworks. In addition it will look at Equality and Inclusion Departments as well as the social benefits of increased accessibility. By the end of this Course, you will be able to ensure your Parliament is accessible for persons with disabilities. 

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Related Publications

CPwD Disability Inclusion Guidelines - Facilities of Inclusion

The CPwD Disability Inclusion Guidelines provide guidance to Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on how to enhance and sensitize their communications with persons with disabilities.

CPwD Disability Inclusion Guidelines - Linguistic Principles

The CPwD Disability Inclusion Guidelines provide guidance to Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on how to enhance and sensitize their communications with persons with disabilities.

The Parliamentarian: 2021 Issue Four - What role can Parliaments play in supporting people with disabilities in the Commonwealth?

This digital edition examines the challenges and barriers facing people with disabilities in the Commonwealth and asks what role can Commonwealth Parliaments and Parliamentarians play in supporting people with disabilities? Contributors include Commonwealth MPs from Kenya, Pakistan, Fiji, UK, Nigeria, Nova Scotia and Scotland as well as global experts and international organisations about many different aspects of disability rights including the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions (CFNHRI), Global Disability Innovation Hub and Microsoft.

This issue of The Parliamentarian also features an exclusive interview with the outgoing Presiding Officers of the Australian Federal Parliament; the challenges of adapting a historic Parliament building for modern use; and Commonwealth Parliaments’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact us if you require a text-only accessible version.