Part II The law: International human rights law and disability Section II Other international and regional human rights instruments and disability 5.8. THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND AGENDA 2030 Disability is referenced in various parts of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and specifically in parts related to education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and monitoring of the SDGs, for instance: • Goal 4 on inclusive and equitable quality education and promotion of life-long learning opportunities for all focuses on eliminating gender disparities in education and ensuring equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities. In addition, the proposal calls for building and upgrading education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and also provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all. • In Goal 8: to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, the international community aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. • Closely linked is Goal 10, which strives to reduce inequality within and among countries by empowering and promoting the social, economic and political inclusion of all, including persons with disabilities. • Goal 11 would work to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable. To realize this goal, Member States are called upon to provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, such as persons with disabilities. In addition, the proposal calls for providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, particularly for persons with disabilities. • Goal 17 stresses that in order to strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development, the collection of data and monitoring and accountability of the SDGs are crucial. Member States are called upon to enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including least developed countries and small island developing states, which would significantly increase the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data that is also disaggregated by disability.195 In addition to the above, Goal 5 on gender equality sets a number of targets which aim at ‘all women and girls at all levels’.196 Whilst not distinguishing particular intersectionalities, it is clear that this goal is inclusive of disabled women and girls. As part of the 9th and 10th sessions of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (June 2017 and 2018), women and girls with disabilities took part in a series of side events, emphasizing the critical role they have in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – so that “no one is left behind”.197 195 Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Inclusive Social Development, available at www.un.org/development/ desa/disabilities/about-us/sustainable-development-goals-sdgs-and-disability.html. 196 UN Women Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve Gender Equality and empower all women and girls, available at www. unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-5-gender-equality. 197 Conference of State Parties (June 2016 and 2017), available at www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/conference-of-statesparties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/9thsession.html and www.un.org/development/desa/ disabilities/conference-of-states-parties-to-the-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2/cosp10.html. Chapter 5: UN human rights instruments and related processes | 79