Central Asia, South Caucasus, and Eastern European organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) have issued a joint letter to the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025 organizers, urging them to provide interpretation services in all official United Nations languages during the upcoming event. The call emphasizes the importance of ensuring equitable participation for individuals with disabilities worldwide and ensuring that the principles of inclusivity and equal involvement are upheld throughout the summit.
Scheduled for April 2-3, 2025, in Berlin, the GDS2025 will serve as a crucial platform for stakeholders globally to advance the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and promote disability inclusion in development and humanitarian efforts. The letter highlights the importance of active engagement by state representatives, OPDs, and professionals in the disability sector to ensure the summit’s success.
The undersigned organizations stress that the provision of interpretation services is essential for meaningful participation, particularly for individuals with disabilities who rely on clear and accessible communication. The letter asserts that providing interpretation in all official UN languages is both financially and technically achievable and crucial to reflect the summit’s inclusive goals.
While the request focuses solely on interpretation services for the summit’s sessions, the organizations emphasize that ensuring accessibility is vital for the summit to genuinely embody its “leave no one behind” principle.
The letter, addressed to the GDS2025 Secretariat, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the International Disability Alliance, and the governments of Germany and Jordan, calls for the immediate inclusion of these interpretation services in the summit’s technical preparations. The organizations express their gratitude and trust that the necessary measures will be implemented to create an inclusive environment for all participants.
The letter was signed by the International Union of Disabled People’s Organizations and other disability organizations from the regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Eastern Europe, highlighting a united demand for equal participation at the global event.
