Geneva, Switzerland – The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2025, hosted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), concluded with a forceful declaration: resilience can only be achieved when inclusion is placed at the center of global strategy.
The five-day gathering underscored a critical, life-saving finding: persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by disasters, being up to four times more likely to die than the general population due to inaccessible warning systems, evacuation procedures, and shelters.
The theme of inclusion dominated the platform, with a significant push for the full and meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in all stages of disaster risk reduction (DRR). Key discussions highlighted that moving beyond just consultation to ensuring the active leadership of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) is essential for effective planning.
The event demonstrated a clear commitment to action, with 147 persons with disabilities registered and nearly 500 participants expressing specific interest in disability inclusion. The focus now shifts from policy to implementation, urging governments to embed disability inclusion into national DRR plans, improve the collection of disability-disaggregated disaster data, and translate guidelines into concrete, accessible actions on the ground.