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.
Partnering with NIMC Sensitising the Media
Recognizing the media’s potential to shape narratives and challenge stigma, UNDP has partnered with the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) under the SSPS programme to build the capacity of journalists on disability-inclusive reporting. The collaboration recently began with a workshop in Dhaka on 29th April to develop a Media Guideline on disability-inclusive communication. Following this, the first pilot Capacity Building Workshop was held in Rangpur — marking the beginning of a planned nationwide series.
Media professionals, rights activists, and academics came together to discuss the rights of persons with disabilities in light of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013.
The training sessions covered key topics such as understanding disability and its categories, ethical considerations in disability reporting, common pitfalls, and inclusive communication strategies. A central focus was placed on the principle of “Nothing about us without us.”
Participants reflected on how the stories of persons with disabilities are often told – and just as often, not told at all. Many journalists acknowledged a recurring trend: the media tends to spotlight persons with disabilities only when they achieve extraordinary success or face extreme adversity, while their everyday challenges and accomplishments are largely overlooked.
“From the moment they’re born, persons with disabilities face exclusion,” said Labony Yeasmin, a journalist from The Daily Observer, who shared her personal experience as a mother of a child with cerebral palsy. “Even schools and hospitals are not equipped to accommodate their basic needs.
The resource persons of the workshop guided participants on how to report disability-related issues effectively, with appropriate language and framing, to bring the concerns of persons with disabilities to the attention of policymakers.
A Shift in the Narrative
The Rangpur workshop highlighted the urgent need to move from charity-based to rights-based storytelling. Media professionals discussed the language used in reporting, the lack of accessible data, and how inclusive storytelling can influence public perception and policy. Jewel, a correspondent from Bangla Vision, stressed, “We need to tell the full spectrum of their lives—not just the highs and lows.”
UNDP’s Global Commitment to Disability Rights
Globally, UNDP is committed to advancing the rights of persons with disabilities through its Disability Inclusion Strategy, aligning with the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). UNDP supports countries in developing inclusive policies, improving accessibility in public services, and strengthening data systems for better targeting and monitoring. To advance this goal, the SSPS Programme is promoting disability-inclusive social protection with the vision of transforming persons with disabilities into valuable assets for the nation, not as liabilities, but as empowered individuals who contribute to society.
Looking Ahead
A network of twenty-five reporters has already been created in Rangpur to advance the goal of the workshop. As Bangladesh strives to achieve the SDGs, ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities is critical. The collaboration between UNDP’s SSPS Programme and NIMC marks a significant step toward building a media landscape that is informed, sensitive, and inclusive. By empowering journalists to tell stories that go beyond stereotypes and highlight everyday realities, this initiative aims to shift perceptions and influence policies. Persons with disabilities must be seen as active contributors to society, not as burdens. Inclusive storytelling is not just about visibility – it’s about justice, dignity, and creating a Bangladesh where no one is left behind.
