Jakarta – DILANS Indonesia, a Bandung-based movement advocating rights for people with disabilities and the elderly, called upon global leaders and citizens to address the intersecting crises of climate change, disability, and social inclusion.
DILANS Indonesia President Farhan Helmy calls for the public to support their cause by signing a petition on the Change.org platform. “Help me and my friends in the Indonesian Disability and Elderly Movement (DILANS) to sign this message to world leaders and citizens on Climate Crisis, Disability and Social Inclusion,” he said.
The Bandung message was announced on December 10, at the end of the group’s week-long activities commemorating the International Day of Disabled Persons, Human Rights Day, and COP28 in Dubai, which went on the same week. The message highlights the unique vulnerabilities of people with disabilities in the face of climate change, emphasising the need for inclusive and empathetic action in line with the Paris Agreement.
“Physical mobility limitation, which will decrease over time, will be exacerbated by the climate crisis, which has an accumulative impact on various hydrometeorological disasters. A lack of a serious commitment to the Paris Agreement shows a lack of empathy for people with disabilities and the elderly, whose number in the world is approaching two billion,” it said.
The statement draws attention to the exacerbated challenges faced by those with physical mobility limitations due to the accumulative impact of various hydrometeorological disasters. This is a growing concern as the number of people with disabilities and the elderly is nearing two billion globally.
The statement urges more robust action and support, mainly through implementing the “loss and damage” scheme. This scheme aims to provide funding support to countries and vulnerable groups affected by climate change. “However, its implementation must be monitored to ensure it directly impacts vulnerable groups,” it said.
The principle of an inclusive life is championed in the statement, with a strong call for the continuous practice of social inclusion in everyday life. The motto “NO ONE LEFT BEHIND” reflects the efforts and hopes to consider people with disabilities and the elderly in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. This is further reinforced by the principle of “NOTHING ABOUT US, WITHOUT US,” highlighting the importance of involving these communities in decisions that affect them.
The statement refers to the Convention of Human Rights, Persons with Disabilities, a UN convention dedicated to the rights of disabled and elderly individuals. This convention aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and has been translated into various national and sub-national regulations. The Bandung message calls for the maintenance and acceleration of these norms, emphasising that the various shortcomings that have occurred so far have limited the interests of disabled and elderly residents. (nsh)