CPA marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities (#IDPwD)
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), through its Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, has marked International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 #IDPwD on 3 December 2025. The CPA celebrates its commitment to advancing inclusion, accessibility and equality for persons with disabilities.
The UN-observed day is recognised across the world and this year’s theme is ‘Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress’.
The CPwD Chairperson, Senator Hon. Isaiah Jacob (Malaysia) said:
“International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an opportunity to recognise the achievements of persons with disabilities in all spheres of our daily life and the work that needs to be done to advance equal representation for all. The Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network is active in promoting equal representation for persons with disabilities in Parliaments and greater accessibility to Legislative buildings.”
The CPwD Chairperson also outlined some of the activities taking place at the Parliament of Malaysia to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 #IDPwD - view below or click here:
#IDPwD Networking event at Westminster
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025, the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg introduced a networking event at the UK Parliament which heard testimonials from persons with disabilities from around the world.
The UK Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Rt Hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington spoke about the projects supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to support people in the poorest countries in the world – particularly those with disabilities. She outlined that disabilities don’t get the same focus as other areas and so advocacy, visibility and awareness are required to ensure sustainability in development work.
Disability advocate, Juliana Afia Mahmood from Ghana spoke about championing persons with disabilities across the world and thanked the UK Government for its support and ensuring that funding is not cut for projects. It is important to highlight projects that mainstream support for persons with disabilities in their daily lives and to ensure that persons with disabilities take part in decision making at all levels.
Kuchera Masimba from Zimbabwe spoke about his life with a visual impairment and his advocacy work for the rights of people with disabilities.
Hon. Marsha de Cordova, MP, Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Disability said it was inspiring to hear stories of persons with disabilities from across the world and how the UK Government is supporting them through its funded projects. Disability rights has to be at the heart of policy decisions when it comes to development funding and supporting the most vulnerable in society.
The event was held by the CPA in partnership with the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and Bond, a UK charity which civil society organisations to combat inequality.
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The Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network, within the wider Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, facilitates activities and programmes to champion and increase the representation of persons with disabilities in Commonwealth Parliaments and works towards the mainstreaming of disability considerations in all CPA activities and programmes. The network supports elected representatives with disabilities in 180 Parliaments and Legislatures across the Commonwealth and ensures that issues of persons with disabilities are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation.
For media enquiries, please contact communications@cpahq.org.
