The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) hosted the Global Compact on Inclusive and Accessible Cities. This Global Compact gathered city leaders and mayors from Berlin, New York, Chicago and Amman for a signing ceremony signifying their commitment towards inclusive and accessible cities for persons with disabilities and older persons. This convening and celebration gathered leaders in human rights, international development, smart cities, as well as in urban planning, policy, and design.
There are more than 1 billion people with disabilities in the world and a growing population of urban older residents (currently 58% of the estimated 900 million globally). By 2050 close to 70% of the world population will live in cities. Half of all persons with disabilities and older persons around the world now live in towns and cities, and these groups are estimated to represent over 2 billion persons in cities worldwide by 2050. City leaders have the opportunity to make cities age-friendly and ensure that cities are accessible for people with disabilities and for all older persons by using advances in technology and understanding of universal design. The Global Campaign on Inclusive and Accessible Cities will operationalize the commitments agreed in the Compact by creating a clear implementation framework that will promote best practices, and provide clear guidelines and technical support for city leaders and urban development actors.
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) with a membership of 4000 mayors from around the world, World Enabled and the Disability Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development (DIAUD) Network have taken a leading role in promoting this campaign. They are working closely with co-sponsors at UN-Habitat, German Development Cooperation (BMZ and GIZ), Alianza Smart LATAM, the Office of the UN Special Envoy on Accessibility and the Office of the UN Special Rapporteur on Disability.
The Global Compact on Inclusive and Accessible Cities is a declaration that aligns key commitments to accessibility, universal design and inclusion within The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations New Urban Agenda, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the WHO’s Age-friendly Cities and Communities Initiative. It affirms the rights of 1 billion women, men, girls and boys with disabilities and the increasing share of the global population aged 60 or older that experience barriers to their equitable participation in society.
This global call for action lays at the core of the #Cities4All campaign. BMZ hosted the launching of the Compact and the Cities for All Campaign as part of the celebrate for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The location of the event — Marie-Schlei-Saal, Stresemannstrasse 92, 10963, Berlin.
