World Health Organization Makes Resolution on Disability and Accessibility

The WHO recently embraced Resolution EB148.R6, “The highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities.” This resolution has multiple parts, including affirming that people with disabilities deserve healthcare without obstacles, whether those obstacles be physical, informational or attitudinal. Other parts of the resolution focus on the necessity of taking people with disabilities into account when planning for public health emergencies.

Beyond establishing what the “highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities” would mean, the resolution directs the WHO to take concrete action. Such actions include making the WHO an accessible organization and integrating discussions of accessibility and disability into the totality of the WHO’s work (as per the United Nations disability inclusion strategy), as well as giving information and assistance to Member States so that these countries can create accessible healthcare.

Categories: World of Accessibility