Chikunga calls for participation
Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga addressed the conference on its opening day. “There are no viable shortcuts to disability inclusion,” she said, according to SABC. She called for people with disabilities and their representative organisations to be involved throughout decision-making, connecting participation with economic opportunities and protection from violence.
A demand for representation and funding
The D20 recommendations sought an official disability engagement group and a G20 working group. They also proposed directing at least 15 per cent of development, innovation and climate finance to disability-inclusive programmes. These were advocacy demands addressed to governments, alongside calls for accessible services and participation in monitoring. [2]
Organisations carry the agenda forward
The organisers had mobilised disability organisations during South Africa’s 2025 G20 presidency, building on Brazil’s earlier D20 work. On the second conference day, Alex Msitshana handed the initiative to US disability advocate Marcie Roth. Panel discussions linked international cooperation with the practical experience of disabled people. [1][4]