The first time G7 Ministers Meeting on Inclusion and DisabilityHeld in Umbria, Italy, from 14 to 16 October 2024, Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis He praised the governments present for pledging to take practical steps to remove barriers for persons with disabilities, but called on leaders to commit to more ambitious funding and institutionalization of the advancement of the rights of persons with disabilities in all subsequent G7 presidencies.
This historic summit brought together government officials, civil society leaders and experts from G7 countries (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) to address critical issues related to disability and inclusion, setting a new precedent for international cooperation in this vital field.
In her remarks throughout the Ministerial, Davis emphasized the urgent need for G7 countries to strengthen their commitment to the social inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Speaking to a technical panel on “Sports and Services for All,” Davis addressed how to scale up inclusive sports and education programs through stronger national funding commitments and new partnerships dedicated to expanding impact in low- and middle-income countries.
At the conclusion of the summit, attendees signed the Solvagnano Charter – a series of commitments to promote inclusion in various fields. In particular, the Charter calls on G7 countries to take concrete actions to support inclusive education and employment opportunities, embrace sport as a catalyst for inclusion, and permanently include the topic of “Inclusion and Disability” in future G7 agendas, ensuring non-discrimination between disability. Rights remain a priority in global policy making.
We are committed to working with G7 leaders to advance individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This summit is a meaningful step forward. CEO of Special Olympics @mary davis She shares her experience in Umbria, Italy as part of the American delegation. pic.twitter.com/Ttjafaq1XP
– Special Olympics (@SpecialOlympics) October 16, 2024
“The G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Inclusion and Disability represents an important step forward in our collective journey towards a more inclusive world. Special Olympics is honored to be part of this historic event and ensures that our community of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) sits at the table alongside the leaders of these We commend the US Government for taking a leadership role in disability mainstreaming across all multilateral institutions and we are committed to working with G7 leaders to ensure that the voices of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are heard and their needs are met. When we come together with a shared vision, we can make real change.”
Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics
“But this inaugural meeting must not be the last. We are grateful to Italy for raising this issue and call on all subsequent G7 presidencies to schedule regular ministerial meetings on disability to monitor progress to ensure that commitments on inclusion lead to results: better, stronger policies.” Legal frameworks and more financial resources We look forward to continued cooperation with the G7 to create a world where everyone is valued and included. – Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics
Special Olympics’ invitation to attend the G7 Ministers’ Meeting follows the organization’s invitation First annual message on the global status of inclusion in educationwhich found that countries around the world are not meeting their inclusion commitments. In 2023, The organization called Governments should allocate at least three percent of national education budgets to increase the social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities. In the summer of 2023, Special Olympics also announced the formation of the federation Global Leadership Alliance for InclusionIt is a pioneering multi-stakeholder effort involving governments, industry, philanthropies and the development community, to increase inclusive practices in education and sport, and create more inclusive schools and communities.
