WHO policy on disability

WHO/ NOOR /Sebastian Liste

WHO is committed to building a world in which all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being. This can only be achieved if health systems are accessible to and inclusive of people with disability on an equal basis with others. WHO also strives to be an “organization for all” with people with disability in all their diversity represented at all levels of the Organization’s workforce.

On 11 June 2019, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) to bring disability inclusion to the forefront of all areas of the UN’s work around the world, both inside and outside the organization. Disability must now be ingrained across all programmatic areas of work and core functions of the UN. The WHO Policy on Disability, launched by the Director-General on 3 December 2020, and accompanying action plans, serve as the primary framework for implementation of the UNDIS across the Organization.

United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS)

The WHO Policy on Disability requires WHO to:

Integrate disability into the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all programmes, while continuing disability-specific or targeted initiatives for people with disability. More information about WHO’s disability programme.

Consult with people with disability in decisions relating to its programmes and operations, including organizations of persons with disabilities.

Recognize and address the multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination that people with disability face when accessing health systems and services.

Progressively and incrementally improve the accessibility of building, facilities, workspaces, information, procurement processes, and events to people with a range of impairments, including those with physical, sensory, psychosocial, and intellectual impairments.

Attract, recruit, retain and promote people with disability as staff; and strengthen understanding on disability inclusion within the Organization.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that people with disability in all their diversity are included meaningfully in WHO as an organization and that disability is ingrained across all programmatic areas of work.

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The WHO Policy on Disability is implemented through an action plan that outlines activities to be undertaken over the next three years and sets targets against which to track progress. The Director-General keeps Member States updated on progress through reports to the Executive Board and the World Health Assembly.

WHO also reports on implementation on an annual basis through the UNDIS accountability framework.

WHO policy on disability

WHO Policy on disability