The conference took place for the third time (https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org/). The international disability organizations that organized the conference have compiled an interesting program for those affected, based on the experiences of those affected: self advocacy, how to achieve inclusion, local narratives, health for all, inclusive city, local government, parlamentarian work, political participation.
It becomes clear that there are many obstacles for people with disabilities. In Germany, they are denied the opportunity to speak for themselves. The federal government then claims to respect human rights and asserts that everything here is positive for people with disabilities. “When a civilization, a state, or a professional group speaks only positively about itself,” writes the italian sociologist Orsini, citing the three great thinkers of the school of suspicion: Marx, Nietzsche, and Freud, “it is a good rule to suspect that they are hiding something of which they are ashamed.” (Casa Bianca–Italia: La corruzione dell’informazione di uno stato satellite” Alessandro Orsini, 2025).
Unfortunately, denying reality isn’t helpful if you want to change something. If you check online what is said about the real situation regarding the rights of people with disabilities in Germany, you’ll find that the theory is unfortunately not available in practice. People with disabilities are often poor, and many now live on the streets—not a pleasant confirmation of the official opinion. It was also sad that the murders of the sick and disabled under German fascism were not remembered – those who do not face up to the past are blocking the future.
As co-host Jordan put it, much remains to be done to achieve peace and justice.
It was interesting to hear perspectives from other continents: War and climate change are extremely threatening, especially for the vulnerable. They also lead to the dismantling of human rights. It is therefore important to ensure peace worldwide- down with warmongers!
It was also noticeable that development aid and, of course, supranational political organizations are a business for some participants (“Like a travel agency for academics’ children”, He was a project manager in Latin America, she a junior consultant in Africa: Both received more than 5,000 euros net. On absurd salaries in development cooperation, Anne Jeschke, 4. April 2025, 11:31 Uhr, https://www.zeit.de/arbeit/2025-03/entwicklungszusammenarbeit-ausland-gehalt-entwicklungshilfe-ungleichheit).
At least it has been achieved that 15% of international aid is now spent on people with disabilities – which roughly represents their share of the population.
Personally, I have noted the following empowering statements to start progress:
Wild at heart (Europe);
Putting the gun to politicians’ heads- literally of course, they must learn that their are ones countries first servants! (Africa);
Disability empowers bridge building; ask, how can you achieve change; seek supporters; stay in the learning mode; be ambitious; find a face or faces and also consider a storytelling approach and visualizations (Africa).
So, cripples of the globe- let us unite and fight together; we know how fragile life is, so we are perfectly entitled to change society for the better!