The Summit of the Future is an important meeting organised by the United Nations. It gathers leaders from around the world to talk about important global problems and how to solve them. 

World leaders will work towards agreements on pressing issues during the Summit such as climate change, sustainable development, and human rights. 

At the heart of this event lies the “Zero Draft” and the “Pact for the Future”—two foundational documents designed to guide international cooperation and action in the coming years.

The Summit of the Future is important to the disability movement because it creates an opportunity to push for policies and actions that promote accessibility, inclusion, and equal rights.

By addressing these issues at an international level, the summit can help ensure that the needs and voices of people with disabilities are heard and considered in creating a fairer and more inclusive world.

Inclusion International is working to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities have their voices heard and included in the agreements made at the Summit.

The Summit of the Future will be held in New York from the 22nd to the 23rd of September 2024 at the UN Headquarters, with some pre-events on the 20th and 21st. 

The Zero Draft

The “Zero Draft” is the first proposal for discussions before the summit. It examines the current state of global affairs, talks about the key challenges, and outlines ways to move forward together. 

The draft is based on many consultations and inputs from different groups of people.

Here is what the Zero Draft talks about:

  1. Climate Action and Environmental Sustainability: Stresses the need for strong climate policies, using renewable energy, and conservation to fight climate change and protect biodiversity.
  2. Economic Equity and Social Justice: Supports policies for fair economic growth, reducing inequality, and protecting vulnerable people.
  3. Technological Innovation and Digital Inclusion: Highlights the importance of new technology while ensuring everyone has access to digital resources and is protected against cyber threats.
  4. Global Health and Well-being: Stresses the importance of strong health systems, universal healthcare, and preventing future pandemics.
  5. Peace, Security, and Human Rights: Calls for more international cooperation to solve conflicts, protect human rights, and support democratic governance.

The Zero Draft is not a final document but a starting point for discussion–and it is already evolving. Its purpose is to get important people and organisations to talk, gather feedback, and offer proposals to ensure that the final agreements reached at the summit cover important issues and are achievable.

In the second revision of the Zero Draft, there were significant additions to include mentions of disability, increasing the references from 2 to 6. 

These updates highlight the growing commitments to inclusion at the UN, addressing the impact of violence on persons with disabilities in conflict, promoting assistive technologies, and ensuring disability inclusion in youth and UN participation.

You can find more information on ways to advocate for disability’s inclusion in the evolving draft through IDA’s advocacy guidance here.

The Pact for the Future

The “Pact for the Future” is the result of the Summit of the Future’s discussions.

It is a formal commitment by participating countries and organisations to work together towards shared goals for a more sustainable, fair, and peaceful world.

Core Principles of the Pact for the Future:

  1. Sustainability: A commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, with particular emphasis on environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
  2. Inclusivity: Ensuring that all voices, particularly those of vulnerable communities, are heard and considered in decision-making processes.
  3. Cooperation: Fostering stronger international partnerships and multilateral cooperation to tackle global challenges collectively.
  4. Innovation: Encouraging innovation and the responsible use of technology to drive progress and solve complex problems.
  5. Accountability: Establishing clear mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, and evaluating progress towards the agreed goals.

The Pact for the Future aims to set the path for concrete actions, timelines, and accountability measures to ensure that commitments are translated into tangible outcomes. This includes financial pledges, policy reforms, and collaborative initiatives across various sectors.

The Road Ahead

As we approach the Summit for the Future, the release of the Zero Draft marked the beginning of an intensive period of negotiation, consultation, and collaboration. 

We encourage Inclusion International members and organisations from all sectors of society to engage with the draft, provide feedback, and participate in shaping the final Pact for the Future.

Our movement needs to actively participate in shaping the draft and the agreement to ensure continued inclusivity.

Please let us know if you plan on participating in the Summit so that we can consolidate our voices for collective advocacy! You can email Fayel at fayel@inclusion-international.org.

The summit’s success depends on nations and organisations setting aside differences, prioritising common interests, and committing to a shared vision for a better world. 

Together, we can help shape a sustainable, inclusive, and just future–inclusive of the experiences that people with intellectual disabilities face.