At the first-ever G7 Ministers' Meeting on Inclusion and Disability, held in Umbria, Italy from October 14 – 16, 2024, Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis commended attending governments for pledging to take actionable steps to remove barriers for persons with disabilities, but called on leaders to commit to more ambitious financing and to institutionalize advancing disability rights in all subsequent G7 presidencies.
This landmark summit brought together government officials, civil society leaders and experts from the G7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) to address critical issues of disability and inclusion, setting a new precedent for international cooperation in this vital area.
In her remarks throughout the Ministerial, Davis emphasized the urgent need for G7 nations to strengthen their commitment to the social inclusion of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Speaking on a technical panel about "Sport and Services for all," Davis addressed how to expand inclusive sports and education programming through more robust national funding commitments and new partnerships dedicated to scaling impact in low- and middle-income countries.
At the conclusion of the Summit, attendees signed the Solfagnano Charter—a series of commitments to strengthen inclusion across diverse areas. In particular, the Charter calls on G7 nations to take concrete actions to support inclusive education and employment opportunities, to embrace sport as a catalyst for inclusion, and to permanently include the topic of "inclusion and disability" in future G7 agendas, ensuring that disability rights remain a priority in global policymaking.
We're committed to working with G7 leaders to uplift individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This summit is a meaningful step forward. Special Olympics CEO @MaryDavis shares her experience in Umbria, Italy as part of the U.S. delegation. pic.twitter.com/Ttjafaq1XP
— Special Olympics (@SpecialOlympics) October 16, 2024
"The G7 Ministers' Meeting on Inclusion and Disability marks a significant step forward in our collective journey towards a more inclusive world. Special Olympics is honored to be part of this historic event and ensure that our community of young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has a seat at the table alongside leaders from these seven major economies. We applaud the US Government for taking a leading role in mainstreaming disability inclusion through all multilateral institutions. We are committed to working with G7 leaders to ensure that the voices of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities are heard and their needs are met. This summit has shown that when we come together with a shared vision, we can create real change."
"But this inaugural meeting must not be the last. We are grateful to Italy for elevating this issue and call on all subsequent G7 presidencies to schedule regular ministerial meetings on disability to monitor progress to ensure that commitments to inclusion yield results: better policies, stronger legal frameworks and more financial resources. We look forward to continued collaboration with the G7 to create a world where everyone is valued and included." - Mary Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics
Watch the key moments of the #G7 Ministers Meeting on Inclusion and Disability held in Assisi and Solfagnano on 14-15-16 October #G7Italy pic.twitter.com/DRdBAs8nYb
— G7 Italy (@G7) October 16, 2024
Special Olympics' invitation to the G7 Minister's Meeting follows the organization's first annual letter on the Global State of Inclusion in Education, which found that countries around the globe are falling short of their commitments to inclusion. In 2023, the organization called on governments to dedicate a minimum of three percent of their national education budgets to increase social inclusion for students with IDD. In Summer 2023, Special Olympics also announced the formation of the Global Leadership Coalition for Inclusion, a pioneering multilateral effort, comprising governments, industry, philanthropy and the development community, to increase inclusive practices in education and sport, and create more inclusive schools and communities.
