To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, IFRC was pleased to host another annual webinar on the theme "Humanity for all" - enhancing disability inclusion in the IFRC Network
The launch of the Global Reference Centre on Disability Inclusion convened IFRC leadership and National Societies to establish a unified platform for mainstreaming inclusive humanitarian action.
Opening the session, IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain emphasized the strategic shift from isolated initiatives to a global standard, aligned with Strategy 2030.
The Centre will be hosted by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), Dr. Younis Alkhatib, president of PRCS spoke about leveraging 30 years of specialized rehabilitation and education experience. Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) will serve as Advisory Working Group Lead; Yener Tanık, Governing Board Member of the Turkish Red Crescent Society, highlighted how TRCS will share its transformative "Barrier-Free" volunteering model.
For more information, read the summary of the webinar, or watch the video below
National Societies from Kenya, Finland, Australia, Canada and South Sudan highlighted diverse priorities, ranging from climate resilience and social inclusion to advocacy in conflict zones like Gaza and South Sudan. Consultations revealed a critical demand from the network for standardized toolkits, minimum standards, and remote expert support. The event concluded with a clear mandate: the Centre will function not just as a repository, but as an active engine for capacity building. All National Societies are urged to contribute expertise, partner with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and co-create knowledge products to ensure dignity and access for all.
The 2024 edition was held on Tuesday, December 3rd 2024, international day of persons with disabilities
You can watch the recording of this inspiring event on the IFRC PGI Youtube Channel, where you can also see the full video from the Turkish Red Crescent, and Guinean Red Cross on their disability inclusion programmes.
The new guidance note developed by Finnish Red Cross and IFRC, being shared as a pilot for field testing.
Please review and test out the document, and send feedback to [email protected]