Rehabilitation International Social Commission and Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Center (SMRC) hosted a virtual parallel event at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women on March 19, 2026, titled “Gender, Youth and Children with Disabilities in a Climate Situation.” The event brought together 60 participants from across regions to explore the intersections of climate change, gender, and disability.
Our Founder and Executive Director Nidhi Goyal was joined by speakers Marcie Roth, Executive Director and CEO, World Institute on Disability, Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor/Global Lead Social Specialist, World Bank, Jenny Chinchilla, Alternate focal point for the Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change, for the Latin American and Caribbean Region, and Munah Shakya, Youth Advocate on Disability, Indigenous Rights, Climate Justice, on the panel.
Nidhi highlighted how climate change is not just an environmental crisis, but a deeply unequal one, disproportionately impacting persons with disabilities. Through examples, she demonstrated how inaccessible early warning systems, climate-stressed assistive technologies, and exclusionary infrastructure continue to put lives at risk. Drawing from the Indian and South Asian context, Nidhi emphasised that while strong policy frameworks exist, implementation gaps persist due to limited inclusion of persons with disabilities in decision-making. She called for a shift from tokenistic approaches to co-leadership, advocating for accessible systems, inclusive water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and shelter infrastructure, and a move from charity-based to rights-based climate action.
The other speakers brought diverse global and regional perspectives on disability, gender, and climate change. Collectively, the discussion underscored the urgent need to centre persons with disabilities—especially women, youth, and children—in building inclusive and climate-resilient futures.
You can catch up on the live discussion through our Twitter/X thread.