Kinshasa, April 22nd, 2026 (CPA).- The United Nations’ commitment to the inclusion of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable people (PLWD-OVP) was the subject of a discussion between the Minister in charge and the coordinator of humanitarian agencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a meeting on Wednesday in Kinshasa.
“I have received in audience the coordinator of United Nations humanitarian agencies in DRC to address several major issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the humanitarian context. Among the priorities discussed were the implementation of UN Resolution 2475 on the protection of persons with disabilities in areas of armed conflict, the organization of a visit to affected populations, and the evaluation of the national policy and strategy for the empowerment of persons with disabilities,” has declared Ms. Irene Esambo, Deputy Minister in charge of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable persons.
“These discussions have also focused on DRC’s preparation in Geneva for the presentation of its initial report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” she has added, before pleading for an increased support from partners. Minister Esambo has also emphasized on the need for an increased technical and financial support. For his part, Bruno Lemarquis, coordinator of United Nations humanitarian agencies in DRC, has applauded the efforts of the Congolese government. He has promised to mobilize humanitarian partners to systematically integrate the disability index into their interventions to ensure better coordination of actions on the ground.
Regarding the evaluation of the national policy and strategy for the empowerment of people with disabilities (PWDs), the senior UN official has expressed his willingness to support the Ministry responsible for PWDs and people with visual impairments (PWD-VIs) alongside all other partners to jointly coordinate actions in this long-marginalized sector.