Lobby

We promote inclusive aid and trade policies, so that the rights of people with disabilities for equal access, participation and empowerment are embedded in a systematic way.

  • Our overall lobby aim is to ensure the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) and specifically Article 32 which applies to international cooperation.
  • We hold development actors accountable on their international commitment to ‘Leave No One Behind’ on the road towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Together with our participants we set specific lobby goals and we closely cooperate with other advocacy networks, Dutch and international, to achieve them. The timeline below shows which steps towards disability inclusion have been taken since The Netherlands committed to the SDGs and ratified the UN CRPD.

Accessibility of the timeline below

Do you have trouble viewing the content on the timeline? Go to our accessible timeline.

Timeline

2021
DCDD has joined the ‘Adopt an SDG’ campaign
From left to right: Lieke Scheewe, Jan Klink (VVD) and someone from Oxfam Novib. Jan Klink holds SDG 2.

DCDD has joined the ‘Adopt an SDG’ campaign, where MPs can choose to adopt one or more SDGs and commit

DCDD part of We Are Able consortium led by ZOA
African woman carrying a large metal pot on her head

For the next 5 years DCDD will be part of the We Are Able consortium led by ZOA, which is

2020
DCDD’s 20th anniversary!
Lineup of speakers for DCDD's 20 year anniversary

In 2020 DCDD celebrated it’s 20th anniversary! 20 years of steps we’ve taken together in order to prioritise the rights

Statement DCDD: COVID-19 hits people with disabilities the hardest
man in wheelchair tries to wash his hands at a high sink

DCDD made a statement on the situation of persons with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and what is needed for

Minister Kaag sends letter to Parliament with overview of projects supporting disability inclusion
Minister Sigrid Kaag

Minister Kaag (Aid & Trade) sends a letter to Parliament with an overview of projects which support rights and inclusion

Motion adopted on how COVID-aid reaches most vulnerable people

A motion was adopted, which called for clear information on how the Ministry ensures that COVID-aid reaches the most vulnerable

Publication Disability Inclusive COVID-Response
Man showing others how to wash hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19

When COVID-19 hit, DCDD published an overview of practical tools for a disability inclusive COVID-response. More information: here.

Workshop with Dutch Relief Alliance & Ministry of Aid & Trade

Workshop with the Dutch Relief Alliance and the Ministry of Aid & Trade on the new IASC guidelines and action

‘Voices for Inclusion’ Conference
Woman speaking to audience

‘Voices for Inclusion’ Conference, in collaboration with the Liliane Foundation, Voice, and the African Studies Centre. Handover of lessons learned

2019
DCDD launches: ‘An Untapped Potential’
Broadly smiling man with spinning wheel and crutches

DCDD launched the report “An Untapped Potential”. It examines the steps that various stakeholders have taken to implement UNCRPD article

Partos Innovation Festival “All Inclusive”
Partos Innovation Festival “All Inclusive”

DCDD was present at the Partos Innovation Festival “All Inclusive”, with the Ethiopian activist Yetnebersh Nigussie from Light of the

Ministerial Conference in which Minister Kaag aimed for increased support towards ‘mental health and psychosocial support.’
Ministerial Conference in which Minister Kaag aimed for increased support towards ‘mental health and psychosocial support.’

Minister Kaag opened the International Conference on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS). The conference was part of a humanitarian

Meeting with Minister Kaag and the hand-over of our report ‘An Untapped Potential’
Meeting with Minister Kaag and the hand-over of our report ‘An Untapped Potential’
Aid & Trade Minister Kaag sends a letter to Parliament with an overview of projects which support rights and inclusion of people with disabilities
Minister Sigrid Kaag

“Minister Kaag sends a letter to Parliament with an overview of projects which support rights and inclusion of people with

2018
Ambassador for ‘SRHR and hiv/aids’ Lambert Grijns opens the Disability Networking Zone, hosted by DCDD and IDDC, during the AIDS 2018 conference
Ambassador for ‘SRHR and hiv/aids’ Lambert Grijns opens the Disability Networking Zone

Parliament calls for development of disability inclusion criteria and indicators across all aid & trade policies
Dutch Parliament, "Tweede kamer"

The motion came from Kuik (CDA), Bouali (D66) and Voordewind (CU). Read the document in Dutch by clicking here.

Minister Kaag commits to disability inclusion in the area of humanitarian aid, and to ‘leave no one behind’ in general, in the policy note on Dutch development aid & trade (2018-2021)
Minister Sigrid Kaag

“The policy document ‘Investing in global prospects’ of Minister Sigrid Kaag (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) shows how the government

2017
UN special rapporteur Catalina Devandas visits The Netherlands and talks with the Ministry of Aid & Trade and the national human rights institute about her research on inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Lieke Scheewe, Caroline Slobbe and Catalina Devandas

During the visit, Catalina Devandas speaks at DCDD’s expert meeting and receives the publication we developed with ShareNet. Read our

Parliament calls for improvement of monitoring to measure the effects of aid policies on marginalized groups, including people with disabilities
Dutch Parliament, "Tweede kamer"

The motion came from Isabelle Diks (GL). Read more in Dutch by clicking here.  

Minister Ploumen sends letter to Parliament on disability inclusion in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and commits to increase efforts to ensure inclusion
In white letters on pink background the words: sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Below the letters, also in white there are 5 icons of women and girls

In Dutch: “Kamerbrief over Nederlandse aandacht voor mensen met een beperking in programma’s voor SRGR Minister Ploumen (Buitenlandse Handel en

Minister Ploumen (Aid & Trade) commits to make disability inclusion an obligation for humanitarian aid partners and provide them with guidelines within one year
Minister Ploumen

Ploumen also commits to monitor on disability inclusion within the United Nations ‘Education Cannot Wait’ Fund. Read more in Dutch

Parliament hosts ‘special procedure’ on disability inclusion in sexual and reproductive health rights, DCDD members share their knowledge and experience
Parliament hosts ‘special procedure’ on disability inclusion in sexual and reproductive health rights, DCDD members share their knowledge and experience

In Dutch: Bijeenkomst Tweede Kamer ‘Onbeperkt SRGR’ Het risico op seksueel misbruik is voor meisjes met een beperking wereldwijd vele

2016
Ambassador for ‘SRHR and hiv/aids’ Lambert Grijns receives report with recommendations on disability inclusion in sexual and reproductive health and rights from DCDD
Members of DCDD meeting the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lambert Grijns

DCDD met the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Ambassador of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lambert Grijns in November

Ambassador for human rights Kees van Baar receives recommendations on disability inclusion in human rights policies and dialogue from DCDD
Dicky Nieuwenhuis, Lieke Scheewe, Kees van Baar and Yetnebersch Nigussie

In October 2016, DCDD met the Human Rights Ambassador, Kees van Baar. Yetnebersch Nigussie, disability rights advocate in Ethiopia was

DCDD in New York with Minister Koenders during the 9th Conference of States Parties to the UN CRPD, where The Netherlands ratifies the convention
Lieke playing football with Koenders

From 14-16 June 2016, the 9th Conference of State Parties (COSP) to the CRPD was organized in New York. Bert

Government signs the Humanitarian Disability Charter at the World Humanitarian Summit
World Humanitarian Summit 2016 logo, text says World Humanitarian Summit 23-24 May 2016 Istanbul, Turkey

“Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action has been developed in advance of the World Humanitarian Summit

Government votes in favor of ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD)
Logo of CRPD, purple text says Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

“8 reasons to know the UNCRPD” article written by Dicky Nieuwenhuis, available in Dutch here.

Expert meeting on steps needed to ensure disability inclusion in humanitarian aid
Blue text says "Towards disability-inclusive Disaster Risk Management" on a white background, underneath a photo of worried looking people

The expert meeting was organized by the Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD) and the Liliane Foundation, in cooperation

Aid & Trade Minister Ploumen receives DCDD’s recommendations for disability inclusion and ‘leave no one behind’
Minister Ploumen together Kees and Lieke
Parliament calls for disability mainstreaming in foreign aid, trade and human rights policies and dialogue
Dutch Parliament, "Tweede kamer"

The motion came from Dik-Faber (CU) and Van der Staaij (SGP). Read more in Dutch by clicking here.

2015
Parliament calls for disability inclusive humanitarian aid
Dutch Parliament, "Tweede kamer"

The motion came from Van Laar (PvdA) and Voordewind (CU). Read the article (in Dutch) by clicking here.

Aid & Trade Minister Ploumen commits to the SDG principle of ‘leave no one behind’ in a 20-points action plan
The Global goals for sustainable development text and a round circle with different colors representing the goals

‘The 20- point action plan‘ document is in Dutch.

Aid & Trade Minister Ploumen establishes Voice Fund (2016-2020), which supports advocacy projects of marginalized groups, including people with disabilities
Logo of Voice, text include. innovate. influence.

In English: “Voice, the Accountability Fund and the participation of civil society organisations in theme-based calls for proposals” In Dutch:

2007
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed by the Netherlands

The Netherlands puts its signature under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A small stroke for

2006
Initiative note: Right to a decent life for people with disabilities in development cooperation

Find more information on the initiative in Dutch.

2000
Foundation DCDD

“In the year 2000, Marlies van der Kroft, Cristin de Vries and I came together to discuss the recent developments