On 20th July 2022, our Founder and Executive Director, Nidhi Goyal, participated as a panellist in the session “Gender and Disability Rights’ Movement in India: Situation and Challenges toward Disability Inclusive Development in India” during the side event “Promoting Disability and Gender Equality in the G20: Policies and Commitments to Ensure Inclusive Economic Growth.” Maulani Rotinsulu, General Secretary, ASEAN Disability Forum moderated the session.
Held at Vouk Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, as part of the C20 engagement process under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, the event convened global experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders to explore how disability rights and gender equality can be meaningfully integrated into G20 commitments and policies. The event was attended by 100 participants and was livestreamed on YouTube, reaching an additional 115 virtual participants. It provided an important platform for dialogue on advancing intersectional approaches to inclusive economic development and international cooperation.
In her intervention, Nidhi reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing the gender and disability rights movement in India, while underscoring why inclusion is more urgent than ever in the face of conflicts, disasters, inflation, and widening inequalities globally. She called for a shift from welfare-based approaches to a human rights-centred model that empowers persons with disabilities and ensures that development is truly inclusive. As the G20 Presidency transitioned from Indonesia to India, she emphasised the importance of embedding disability inclusion and gender equality within the G20 agenda, reinforcing the commitment to ‘Leave No One Behind.’
