New Delhi, March 10, 2025: Disability rights leaders from Commonwealth nations came together on Friday to deliberate on inclusive policies, emerging best practices, and the future of disability discourse in India and beyond. The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) and the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) hosted a roundtable, bringing together civil society organizations and persons with disabilities from countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives.
The roundtable featured key participants, including Richard Rieser, General Secretary, CDPF, and Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP among others. Discussions focused on collaborative strategies to advance disability inclusion across borders.
Prior to the roundtable, a crucial meeting took place between Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Richard Rieser, and Arman Ali. This meeting explored India’s progress in implementing inclusive policies and identified key areas for improvement.
Speaking about the event, Arman Ali, Executive Director, NCPEDP, stated: “Inclusion isn’t a privilege; it’s a right. This collaboration with CDPF reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have a voice in shaping policies that affect them. Learning from international best practices and sharing our experiences will help us create a world that truly embraces diversity.”
This international collaboration between CDPF and NCPEDP reaffirmed the urgency of building inclusive ecosystems that uphold the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). By fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences, the initiative strengthened India’s role as a leader in disability rights advocacy.
Formed in 2008, CDPF operates across 56 Commonwealth nations, working towards the equitable participation of persons with disabilities through democratic means. As a full member of CDPF, NCPEDP’s continued leadership in disability advocacy ensures that India remains at the forefront of global efforts for inclusion.
