Children with disabilities are among the most marginalised and excluded members of society.
They are less likely to attend school, have limited access to appropriate medical and social services, and may not have the opportunity to participate in community and recreational activities with their peers.
Australia today joins UNICEF in hosting the global launch of UNICEF's flagship annual report The State of the World's Children–Children with Disabilities [external website] in Da Nang, Vietnam.
This is the first time the report focuses on children with disabilities.
AusAID Director General Peter Baxter and UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake launched the report at an event involving children with disability and their families, along with representatives of the Government of Vietnam, civil society and development agencies.
The UNICEF report makes the case that children with a disability have the same rights as children without a disability, and can make important contributions to our communities if provided with the opportunity to do so. The report argues for inclusive and equitable approaches and provides nine recommendations for action by governments and international development partners to tackle barriers children with disability.
Disability-inclusive development is a high priority for the Australian aid program. Australia's work on disability is underpinned by AusAID's Development for All strategy which aims to ensure that all of Australia's aid activities are accessible to and inclusive of people with disability.
Australia's aid program gives particular attention to expanding opportunities for children with disability to go to school. AusAID Director General, Peter Baxter said at the launch, 'Australia recognises that children with disabilities are amongst the most disadvantaged but also have the most to gain from education.'
Australia is also supporting the Ministry of Education in Papua New Guinea to ensure that 940 classrooms built with Australian funding will be accessible for girls and boys with a disability.
Australia is proud to support UNICEF's increased focus on disability and their work to share information and best practice on including children with disability, through our $2.7 million, three-year partnership with UNICEF on disability.
More information
Australia's work on disability-inclusive development
UNICEF [external link]