Statement: Fostering disability-inclusive societies to advance social progress
UN Women statement for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2025
Advancing social progress requires societies that respect the rights, dignity and leadership of women and girls with disabilities. Their contributions to care systems, economic life, community resilience, and peacebuilding demonstrate how societies become stronger when environments are fully accessible, inclusive, and grounded in human rights.
Yet, many still face discrimination and barriers linked to gender and disability, limiting access to services, economic opportunities, leadership, and participation in public life.
UN Women is working in more than 55 countries with governments, organizations of persons with disabilities, civil society, and international partners to expand accessibility and promote inclusive policies. From improving care systems to increasing participation in peacebuilding and strengthening South–South cooperation, our efforts are wide-ranging and impact-driven. As examples, we are promoting the use of assistive technologies to enhance women’s participation in countries such as Georgia, Pakistan, Palestine, and Ukraine. In Colombia, Kenya, Mozambique, Panama, and Tanzania we are partnering with UN agencies to reduce unpaid care burdens and promote disability inclusion.
Sustained funding for this work is critical. The UN Global Disability Fund and dedicated initiatives such as the UN Women Trust Fund to End Violence against Women are vital for supporting networks of women with disabilities and advancing their rights, safety, and leadership.
The upcoming 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2026 focuses on women’s access to justice, offering a critical moment to come together and remove the legal, structural, and procedural barriers that continue to deny women and girls with disabilities equal protection, access, and support.
UN Women remains committed to working with all partners to accelerate accountability and ensure that women and girls with disabilities can fully exercise their rights and shape the future of their communities.
