With just five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the call to “leave no one behind” is more urgent than ever. For Bangladesh, this means taking concrete steps to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities—an estimated 10% of the population – in all aspects of development. The Social Security Policy Support (SSPS) Programme, led by the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh government and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Australian Government (DFAT), and its Disability Inclusive Guidance Note, is working to make this a reality.
Addressing Barriers to Inclusion
Despite legislative frameworks like the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013, and the National Action Plan 2018, persons with disabilities in Bangladesh continue to face systemic barriers. These include limited access to education, healthcare, and employment, alongside deep-rooted social stigma.
UNDP, through its SSPS programme, conducted a Perception Study on persons with disabilities in 2020. The study revealed that persons with disabilities are often perceived as a curse, face various forms of stigma, and suffer from a general lack of societal sensitization. Since then, the SSPS programme has continued its efforts to advance disability rights through national symposiums, research initiatives, and consultative dialogues involving Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
In October of last year, the programme developed a Social Protection Framework for persons with disabilities, grounded in three key principles: recognizing persons with disabilities as Human Capital, Economic Capital, and Social Capital. This rigorous research emphasized that, in order for persons with disabilities to be treated with dignity and respect, there must be widespread awareness about disability rights and issues.
This is where the role of the media becomes crucial. Raising attention to the persistent bottlenecks on the ground is only possible when media professionals have a strong and accurate understanding of disability-related issues.
