The International Disability Alliance (IDA) would like to express our deepest sympathy and solidarity with the people of Haiti after the devastating impact of the earthquake on 14 August 2021. We urge the government of Haiti and the international community to ensure that the disaster response is inclusive of persons with disabilities, in accordance with international obligations and commitments, including Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Sendai Framework, and the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action.
We are concerned that in the 11 years since the tragic 2010 earthquake, there has been insufficient progress in implementing the relevant international frameworks, and much more needs to be done to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities in Haiti are respected, protected, and fulfilled. The promise to Build Back Better and Leave No One Behind must be fulfilled. International relief and reconstruction efforts must prioritize persons with disabilities in Haiti. The guidance provided by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee in its Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action (2019) can inform response measures, while implementation of the commitments included in Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction 2015 may guarantee more long-lasting strengthening of disability-inclusive disaster response systems.