Bridgetown, Barbados — The Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum (CDPF) has launched a major regional workshop in Bridgetown from October 14–16, 2025, bringing together disability advocates, young leaders, and policymakers from across the English-speaking Caribbean. The initiative aims to strengthen inclusive development and accelerate the implementation of the Commonwealth Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP).
The workshop forms part of CDPF’s ongoing mission to promote full inclusion of persons with disabilities across all sectors of society, guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Aims of the Workshop
The regional meeting will:
- Empower emerging disability leaders to participate meaningfully in national and regional policymaking.
- Promote collaboration among Caribbean governments and civil society to implement inclusive laws and programmes.
- Advance the social and human rights model of disability, reaffirming the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
- Encourage the inclusion of disability rights in the forthcoming Commonwealth Strategy 2025–2030 and advocate for endorsement of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2026 in Antigua and Barbuda.
Background
The CDPF is an accredited Commonwealth organisation representing umbrella disability bodies in 52 of the 56 Commonwealth countries, speaking for an estimated 430 million persons with disabilities. The Forum continues to press for the full implementation of the UNCRPD and the mainstreaming of disability across all areas of policy and practice.
While the majority of Commonwealth member states have ratified the UNCRPD, progress towards inclusive governance has been uneven. The CDPF urges governments and the Commonwealth Secretariat to renew their commitment to disability inclusion as a central component of social and economic development.
Quotes
“We believe that meaningful inclusion begins when governments work in partnership with persons with disabilities. This workshop is a tangible step toward ensuring that no one is left behind in our Commonwealth,” said Richard Rieser, General Secretary of the Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum.
“Barbados offers an excellent example of how engagement with the disability community can lead to progressive laws and policies. We hope to replicate this model across the region,” Rieser added.
