UN@80 Open Door Forum: Advancing Disability Inclusion, Rights, and Transformative Action

As part of the UN’s 80th anniversary, the forum reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to dignity, equality, and shared humanity by fostering a crucial, action-oriented dialogue with persons with disabilities and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to advance inclusion in Namibia.

This forum serves as a practical platform for advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2025–2029, which is aligned with Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) and Vision 2030. By centering the voices of persons with disabilities and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), UN Namibia is operationalising its commitment to ensuring that national development processes are inclusive, participatory, and responsive to those most at risk of being left behind.

“A United Call for Action”

The forum began with impactful opening remarks from Ms. Hopolang Phororo, the UN Resident Coordinator; Ms. Erika Goldson, the Representative of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and a message from Mr. Moses Nghipandulwa of the Namibian Federation of the Visually Impaired (NFVI).

• Ms. Goldson underscored the transition from "inclusion in words to inclusion in reality," emphasizing that disability inclusion is a right, not a charity. She celebrated the Art Expo and the vital dialogue on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against people with disabilities.
• Mr. Nghipandulwa, speaking through his message, hailed the UN as a "beacon of hope" and urged adherence to the "Nothing About Us, Without Us" principle. His calls to action included reforms in travel and recruitment policies, systematic budget allocation for disability initiatives, and building partnerships that empower and lead to self-reliance.
• Ms. Phororo underscored the UN’s commitment to working with people with disabilities, emphasizing the critical distinction between doing things for them and doing things with them. She explained that the latter approach is far more meaningful, fostering better outcomes not only for the UN but, more importantly, for people with disabilities themselves, as it affirms their autonomy and demonstrates that their voices truly matter.

The priorities raised during the forum directly inform the four strategic pillars of the UNSDCF 2025–2029. These include effective governance, by ensuring persons with disabilities are meaningfully included in decision-making processes; economic recovery and transformation, through inclusive growth and employment opportunities; sustainable development and climate resilience, particularly for marginalised groups; and human development, by improving access to quality, rights-based social services. Together, these pillars translate disability inclusion from commitment to action.

“Open Forum: Dialogue on Progress and Persistent Challenges”

The morning session, "UN@80 Reflections on Disability Inclusion," featured a vibrant open forum where UN agencies persons with disabilities and OPDs engaged in candid discussions. Participants shared successes, such as UNFPA's support for youth with disabilities and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)'s partnerships, while also presenting key challenges. 

Discussions highlighted the need for UN agencies to directly engage with OPDs at their facilities and support their capacity building in areas like corporate governance. Access to information was a critical point, with calls to translate key documents into "Easy Reading Versions." Participants also emphasized the removal of institutional barriers in travel requirements and UN recruitment, urging systematic funding for disability-specific initiatives and ensuring UN implementing partners integrate disability inclusion into their projects. These reflections underscored a common message: inclusion must be intentional, resourced, and measurable.

The open dialogue reinforced the role of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities as essential partners in implementation, monitoring, and accountability. Their contributions offer practical guidance on how the UN system in Namibia can operationalise the UNSDCF  2025–2029, ensuring that policies, programmes, and partnerships address structural barriers and reflect lived realities.

The forum also contributes to Namibia’s “80 Voices for 80 Years” campaign, which seeks to amplify diverse lived experiences and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities help shape inclusive development and the future of multilateral cooperation.

“Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Uncovering Hidden Risks”

The afternoon session delved into a critical panel discussion on "Gender-Based Violence: Addressing Violence Against Persons with Disabilities," aligning with the global "16 Days of Activism Campaign." The panel was composed of a frontline service provider, a parent of a child with a disability, and two persons with disabilities, bringing together lived experience and professional expertise to illuminate the multifaceted risks faced by the disability community.

Key insights revealed that emotional abuse is a frequently overlooked form of GBV, leaving deep scars. Participants highlighted significant access barriers, including communication difficulties for deaf individuals in justice systems and the lack of trained service providers. The disproportionate burden on parents of children with disabilities, often single mothers facing stigma and economic hardship, was also a key focus. Calls were made for policy implementation, community awareness, advocacy to break stigma, and strengthening networks among all stakeholders to create genuinely inclusive environments and address infrastructure accessibility.

Panelists called for decisive policy implementation, expanded community awareness, stronger advocacy to dismantle stigma, and enhanced coordination among all stakeholders to ensure accessible environments, communication, and services.

“Art and Partnership: Cultivating Connection”

Following the in-depth discussions, an "Art Expo" showcased the inspiring creativity and talent of artists with disabilities. This exhibition served as a powerful reminder that their expression and leadership know no bounds. Their work served as a reminder of the inherent talent and potential within Namibia’s disability community; potential that must be recognized, amplified, and supported.

The event concluded with networking opportunities, allowing UN, persons with disabilities, and OPD representatives to interact and build stronger partnerships through shared experiences and cultural appreciation. This fostered a collaborative spirit, moving beyond dialogue to genuine human connection.

Under the UNSDCF 2025–2029, “Leaving No One Behind” is not a slogan but a development mandate. It requires deliberate action to address the root causes of exclusion and inequality in Namibia. The Open Door Forum marks a key moment in a five-year journey to move from inclusion in words to measurable inclusion in practice, ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognized as rights-holders, contributors, and leaders in Namibia’s development.

The "UN@80 Open Door Forum with Persons with Disabilities" served as a crucial platform for honest and productive dialogue between the UN and Namibian OPDs. The invaluable feedback and recommendations received will strengthen the UN's commitment to working "with" people with disabilities, guiding the transition from promises to tangible practices, from exclusion to empowerment. This event marked a significant step forward for disability inclusion in Namibia, reinforcing that sustained partnerships and concrete action are the only path forward toward true empowerment and self-reliance.