REHACARE 2024: Symposium on international cooperation for inclusion

Global Disability Summit 2025: A global process

The Global Disability Summit, which aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities, particularly those from the Global South, and will be held in Berlin in April 2025, as well as the regional meetings in the run-up, are important building blocks for the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These meetings provide a platform for developing strategies for the inclusion and participation of people with disabilities. The focus is on promoting participation and creating a more inclusive society.

A symposium organized by BAG SELBSTHILFE and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as part of REHACARE 2024 will address several key topics, including expectations for the Global Disability Summit 2025 and prospects for strengthening international cooperation for the inclusion of people with disabilities. Another focus will be on the presentation of the European Regional Summit, which will take place in Berlin on December 6, 2024. It will discuss how the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities can be better implemented worldwide and how the rights of people with disabilities can be strengthened. The aim is to promote participation and inclusion at a global level and foster international partnerships in this process.

Cooperation with international partners

Dr. Martin Danner, Federal Managing Director of BAG SELBSTHILFE, emphasizes the importance of international partnerships: "Together with politicians and society, we want to discuss how we can strengthen the rights of people with disabilities worldwide and continue to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in order to make further progress in the rights of people with disabilities."

The German Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs is also actively supporting this process. "The Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs will constructively support this process and we are pleased to have BAG SELBSTHILFE as a strong partner at our side," said Kerstin Griese, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

Program of the symposium

26.09.2024, Congress Center Düsseldorf, Hall 1, Room 14

• 02:00 p.m.: Welcome and introduction, Daniel Koller, BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V.

• 02:05 p.m: The Global Disability Summit 2025 and its commitments – a driving force for international development cooperation, Alradi Abdalla, International Disability Alliance

• 02:30 p.m: Impulses: Inclusive development cooperation from a corporate perspective, Robert Michels, Dentons Europe, Hannes Niemann, Messe Düsseldorf, Nadine Schönwald, Adecco Group Germany / Unternehmens Forum e.V.

• 03:00 p.m: Panel discussion: Expectations of the Global Disability Summit and prospects for strengthening international cooperation, Alradi Abdalla, International Disability Alliance, Dr. Alexander Görsdorf, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, André Nowak, German Disability Council, Nadine Schönwald, Adecco Group Germany / UnternehmensForum e.V.

• 03:45 p.m: The European Regional Disability Summit – Goals and status of preparations, Dr. Martin Danner, BAG SELBSTHILFE e.V.

• 04:00 p.m: Concluding remarks, Torsten Einstmann, Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs