Welsh Government renews commitment to improve lives of disabled people in Wales

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out an ambitious agenda for transforming the world for people, planet, and prosperity by 2030.

Wales is the only nation – so far – to have translated the UN Sustainable Development Goals into law.

The theme of this year’s International Day of Disabled People (December 3) is: “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for, with and by persons with disabilities”.

Speaking during a visit to Disability Wales and British Deaf Association offices to mark International Day of Disabled People, the Minister said:

“We share this ambition to achieve sustainable development goals for disabled people across Wales. We have built them into our decision making and they influenced our drafting of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

“We are making decisions in the interests of both current and future generations and drawing on the talents of everyone to enable our nation to flourish.”

She added: “Visiting Disability Wales and British Deaf Association has been an opportunity to meet staff at both organisations who are striving to dismantle barriers experienced by disabled people across Wales.

“It has been a privilege to hear about how they are supporting disabled people and how they have embedded the Social Model of Disability into their work.”

Rhian Davies from Disability Wales said: “We are pleased to see the Welsh Government joining the international community in championing the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The Sustainable Development Goals and the aims of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People are vital in ensuring that we achieve full equality for disabled people in Wales.”

She added: “Today has been a great opportunity to meet the Minister and discuss our role in advocating for the rights of disabled people through a pandemic and now a cost of living crisis, whilst also striving for a more inclusive Wales which guarantees independent living for all.”

Rebecca Mansell of British Deaf Association (BDA) added: “We are honoured and delighted to have the Minister visit us today. Our Deaf Community in Wales continues to be oppressed due to widespread barriers in accessing information and communication in British Sign Language (BSL).

“As the national representative organisation for BSL under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), the BDA advocates for equality and rights for the Welsh Deaf Community.”

The Disability Rights Taskforce was set up in 2021 following the ‘Locked Out: Liberating disabled people’s lives and rights in Wales beyond COVID-19’ report.

The Taskforce’s purpose is to define key goals and the actions required to achieve improvements, which Welsh Government, the wider public service and disabled people will work together to deliver.

The taskforce is made up of various working groups, which explore the challenges disabled people face and works towards our ambition of a more equal Wales. All the reports published from the working groups are co-produced with disabled people.