04/11/2026
1.3 billion people. One call for equal rights, inclusion and empowerment.
A landmark IPU resolution, adopted by hundreds of lawmakers at the last Assembly, calls for parliaments worldwide to strengthen the rights and representation of persons with disabilities.
According to the World Health Organization, 1.3 billion people, or one in six people, are estimated to have some form of disability. Their experiences vary widely according to their s*x, age, s*xual orientation, religion, ethnicity, migration status and economic circumstances, which shape both the discrimination they face and their access to services.
The resolution: "Inclusive social development for all: Parliamentary strategies to promote the rights and empowerment of persons with disabilities, places disability firmly within the context of human rights, equal citizenship, democratic representation, the rule of law and sustainable development."
Three parliamentarians helped drive this important work:
🇰🇪 Catherine Mumma (Kenya) – A lawyer and Senator who has championed the implementation of Kenya's Persons with Disabilities Act and stronger disability representation in county assemblies. Her advocacy is also shaped by her personal experience as a mother of a son with disabilities.
🇨🇭 Christian Lohr (Switzerland) – A member of the Swiss National Council and a longstanding disability rights advocate. Born with severe physical disabilities following maternal thalidomide exposure, he has brought his personal experience into parliamentary work on disability rights and health policy.
🇹🇷 Fatma Öncü (Türkiye) – An IPU Bureau of Women Parliamentarians Vice-President and former Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services. Following an accident in infancy that resulted in the amputation of her ten fingers, she has become an advocate for disability inclusion and representation in public life.
Their work highlights the importance of ensuring that persons with disabilities are not only protected by legislation but are also represented, empowered and included in the decisions that shape their lives.