Sharjah, Sept 14 (Petra) – The World Conference 2025 will kick off on Monday under the theme "We Are Inclusion" at Expo Centre Sharjah, organized by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the conference is organized in collaboration with Inclusion International and in strategic partnership with the Sharjah Government Media Bureau. It will place the issues of inclusion and empowerment of people with intellectual disabilities on the global agenda.
The three-day event brings together representatives from 74 countries, 125 institutions, 134 self-advocates, and 152 speakers across 59 sessions, including nine parallel tracks, with more than 531 participants.
The conference will explore the future of inclusion and empowerment for people with intellectual disabilities and their families, presenting a comprehensive roadmap to transition from community-based initiatives to actionable national policies.
As part of its advance activities, the conference hosted two summits on Sunday the "Families" and "Self-Advocates" forums with 270 participants, including individuals, families, and international experts in community inclusion.
Sheikha Jameela bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, underlined the importance of these preliminary events, noting that organizing the self-advocacy and family summits reflects Sharjah’s commitment to involving beneficiaries from the outset in shaping the vision and core messages of the conference. She added that these meetings provide a platform for participants to exchange expertise and discuss issues such as education, employment, and community participation.
The self-advocates’ summit, with 180 participants, opened with remarks from advocates Sheikha Al Qasimi and Dominique Cantor, followed by a keynote address from Inclusion International Vice President Villarreal on the importance of self-advocacy. Sessions focused on inclusive education, fair-wage employment, political participation, and effective support for people with disabilities and their families.
Meanwhile, the families’ summit, which drew 90 participants, addressed topics including "From Vision to Action" to bridge gaps between aspirations and reality; "An Opportunity to Advance Our Agenda" on global care and support priorities; "Family Leadership," highlighting the role of siblings in disability advocacy; and "Building a Support Network" to promote social inclusion and develop future leaders. Families also reviewed Inclusion International’s global resources.
The World Conference We Are Inclusion is held every four years in a member country. Its 18th edition is being hosted for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, in Sharjah.
//Petra// AF
