The G7 'Solfagnano Charter': What Is It Telling Us about the Global Trajectory of Disability Rights?
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 6:33 am
In October this year, the Group of Seven (G7) countries – ie Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and United States (US), with the European Union (EU) as additional member – convened in Assisi under the lead of the Italian Presidency in the 'G7 Inclusion and Disability' meeting. Originating from an ad hoc meeting of finance ministers in 1973, the G7 – a key international forum of the world's leading advanced economies which is not based on an international treaty – is primarily geared to discuss economic issues and address financial contingencies. While macroeconomic issues remain at the core of the G7, since the 1980s, issues related to social rights, climate change, culture or human rights broadly conceived of have fallen within the scope of the discussions held. However, it is the first time that the G7 dedicates a meeting entirely and specifically to disability rights.
At the end of the meeting, Italian Minister for Disability, Alessandra amazon database Locatelli, and the Ministers dealing with disability from all the participating countries adopted the ' Solfagnano Charter' (hereafter 'the Charter'), a programmatic document that reaffirms the rights of persons with disabilities to full and effective participation in civil, social, economic, cultural and political life. Albeit arguably devoid of legal effects, the Charter highlights political commitments undertaken by the G7 States to foster inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. As emphatically noted by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif , when participating in the meeting in Solfagnano, 'nclusion is the right thing to do, because together with diversity and respect for the other, these are a strength for any society'.
While the Charter has not attracted much interest in legal scholarship, it arguably presents noteworthy facets and exhibits a significant symbolic value. This short blog post outlines the core tenets of the Charter and reflects on its programmatic nature as well as on its role in the global trajectory of emergence of disability rights.
At the end of the meeting, Italian Minister for Disability, Alessandra amazon database Locatelli, and the Ministers dealing with disability from all the participating countries adopted the ' Solfagnano Charter' (hereafter 'the Charter'), a programmatic document that reaffirms the rights of persons with disabilities to full and effective participation in civil, social, economic, cultural and political life. Albeit arguably devoid of legal effects, the Charter highlights political commitments undertaken by the G7 States to foster inclusion of persons with disabilities in all areas of life. As emphatically noted by Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif , when participating in the meeting in Solfagnano, 'nclusion is the right thing to do, because together with diversity and respect for the other, these are a strength for any society'.
While the Charter has not attracted much interest in legal scholarship, it arguably presents noteworthy facets and exhibits a significant symbolic value. This short blog post outlines the core tenets of the Charter and reflects on its programmatic nature as well as on its role in the global trajectory of emergence of disability rights.