Solidarity, Strategy, and the Road Ahead: Reflections on Global Disability Summit 2025
Pampha Purkoti (left) and Kabita Bishwakarma (right) are advancing disability rights in Nepal through powerful intersectional advocacy. Photo: Rucha Chitnis
Blog by An-Sofie Leeknecht
From April 1–3, 2025, the Global Disability Summit (GDS) in Berlin brought together thousands of disability rights activists, donors, and government representatives from around the world. The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and our sister organization, the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund (DRAF), were proud to be deeply engaged—co-hosting key pre-summit events and supporting a powerful delegation of more than 18 disability rights activists from across Africa and Asia.
Our participation was rooted in a clear purpose: to amplify grassroots voices, strengthen global advocacy networks, and secure meaningful national commitments to disability inclusion.
Our participation was rooted in a clear purpose: to amplify grassroots voices, strengthen global advocacy networks, and secure meaningful national commitments to disability inclusion.
Building Momentum Through Solidarity
Our engagement began on March 31 with a vibrant gathering co-hosted with Action on Disability and Development (ADD). This energizing pre-summit convening centered the experiences of disability activists from the Global South, fostering solidarity across movements and borders.
Grantee leaders shared powerful reflections on their advocacy journeys—naming the barriers they face and the strategies they deploy. We heard, for example, about the layered discrimination confronting Indigenous young women with disabilities in Brazil, and the accessibility and leadership gaps facing Deaf women in Mali. These testimonies were powerful reminders of the need for intersectional approaches that reflect the realities of those at the margins.
Centering Care and Support in Disability Rights
At an event with Robert Bosch Stiftung, we reimagined care with autonomy, dignity, and community. Photo: Rucha Chitnis
On April 1, DRF co-hosted a well-attended event at the Robert Bosch Stiftung exploring the intersection of disability rights and the care and support economy.
Too often, care systems are discussed in ways that overlook the agency, rights, and contributions of persons with disabilities—especially women. This conversation shifted that narrative. It called for inclusive policy frameworks that recognize disabled people not only as recipients of care, but also as caregivers and advocates for autonomy, dignity, and community-based support.
Grantee Voices at the Forefront
Throughout the Summit, DRF grantees made their voices heard—both on stage and behind the scenes.
- Bisi Bamishe from Nigeria uplifted the rights of women and girls with albinism.
- Rokiatou Maiga from Mali spoke powerfully about youth inclusion within Deaf communities.
- Hilda Macheso from Malawi shared promising strategies for increasing political participation by persons with disabilities.
Beyond public sessions, DRF staff held bilateral meetings with donors and government representatives, advocating for long-term, systemic investments in disability inclusion.
As activist Marie Lamboni from Togo reflected at the close of the summit:
“The ideas shared, and the connections made will strengthen our shared struggle for a disability-inclusive future.”
What’s Next: Turning Commitments into Change
The 2025 Global Disability Summit reinforced what we already know: local advocacy, international solidarity, and intersectional strategies are essential to lasting change.
DRF will continue to work alongside disability rights activists and organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) to monitor, track, and hold governments accountable for the GDS2025 commitments they made. Already, grantees in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malawi, Rwanda, and Uganda have successfully secured national commitments—testament to the strength and reach of grassroots advocacy.
Internally, we remain committed to modeling the values we promote. In previous summits (2018 and 2022), we submitted clear commitments and tracked our progress. We did the same for GDS 2025—ensuring transparency, learning, and alignment with the disability rights movement.
Moving forward, our work will continue to support:
- Localization of the CRPD through OPD-led strategies
- Capacity-building and funding for local organizations
- Stronger relationships between OPDs and government institutions
With targeted trainings, small grants, and technical assistance, we aim to ensure these commitments translate into real change in the lives of persons with disabilities.