Updates

Since 1998, Positive Exposure has celebrated the beauty of human diversity in over 130 countries, promoting a more equitable and inclusive world for individuals at risk of stigma and exclusion.

An estimated 1.3 billion people around the world, or 1 in 6 of us, experience significant disability. 

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly, and aims to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The IDPD also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Theme 2025: Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress

This year’s observance builds directly on the momentum of the Second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha in 4-6 November 2025, where world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to building a just, inclusive and equitable world.

Across all regions, persons with disabilities and their households face challenges and barriers in the attainment of social development objectives:

• They are more likely to live in poverty;
• They continue to face discrimination in employment, receiving lower wages and being overrepresented in the informal sector;
• Social protection systems are uneven and inadequate when considering extra disability-related costs; and,
• The experiences of many individuals with disabilities continue to be marked by the denial of their dignity, autonomy and agency.