emirates7 - The emirate of Sharjah is actively preparing to host Inclusion International’s 18th World Congress titled “We are Inclusion,” which will take place under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, from September 15th to 17th.
This event, held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is organised by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in strategic partnership with Inclusion International.
The official three-day programme will include 83 engaging and forward-thinking sessions, alongside key events scheduled before the opening day. These preliminary events feature the Self-Advocacy Summit on September 14th, which will gather 280 advocates from across the globe, and the Families Summit on the same day, hosting 140 families of people with disabilities, attended by dignitaries and senior officials.
The World Congress is the flagship event of Inclusion International, held every four years since 1963, with past editions hosted in countries like the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Kenya. Bringing the congress to Sharjah this year highlights the global community’s trust and the emirate’s leadership in supporting and empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities.
This year’s congress will unite a wide and diverse group of participants from all five continents, including representatives from self-advocacy groups, family organisations, healthcare and education sectors, social institutions, inclusive businesses, development organisations, government officials, and policy specialists worldwide.
A key focus of the event is giving prominence to self-advocates—people with intellectual disabilities who speak up for their rights—who will lead sessions and share their experiences directly with decision-makers. The congress will address core themes such as strengthening self-advocacy, training advocates, raising family awareness, amplifying voices to policymakers, supporting individuals during crises, improving mental health, planning for the future after parental loss, and enforcing international conventions.
Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International, stated, “This World Congress marks a significant milestone for our movement. It is the first time we convene in the MENA region, partnering with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services to bring our global network together.”
She added, “Our collaboration demonstrates the possibilities when regional leadership and global advocacy unite with a common goal. At the center are self-advocates, families, and organisations driving meaningful change. This is what true inclusion looks like. We are Inclusion.”
Through these focus areas, the Sharjah Congress builds on the emirate’s reputation as a global centre for humanitarian and rights-based initiatives, and as a gateway to new international cooperation aimed at empowering people with intellectual disabilities.
Inclusion International includes over 200 member organisations from 115 countries across five regions: the Middle East and North Africa (8 countries, 11 organisations); Europe (16 countries, 20 organisations); Africa (14 countries, 19 organisations); the Americas (16 countries, 34 organisations); and Asia and the Pacific (10 countries, 23 organisations). The organisation also represents people with intellectual disabilities and their families at the United Nations and other international platforms.
Beyond serving as a platform for sharing experiences and policies, the congress highlights Inclusion International’s significant achievements over the decades, including the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006, and the endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
SCHS calls on all stakeholders—including government and private sectors, civil society, academic institutions, parents, and experts—to participate in this global event, engage with its themes and recommendations, and help build inclusive, fair environments based on justice, equality, and human rights.
This event, held for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is organised by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) in strategic partnership with Inclusion International.
The official three-day programme will include 83 engaging and forward-thinking sessions, alongside key events scheduled before the opening day. These preliminary events feature the Self-Advocacy Summit on September 14th, which will gather 280 advocates from across the globe, and the Families Summit on the same day, hosting 140 families of people with disabilities, attended by dignitaries and senior officials.
The World Congress is the flagship event of Inclusion International, held every four years since 1963, with past editions hosted in countries like the UK, Mexico, Australia, and Kenya. Bringing the congress to Sharjah this year highlights the global community’s trust and the emirate’s leadership in supporting and empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities.
This year’s congress will unite a wide and diverse group of participants from all five continents, including representatives from self-advocacy groups, family organisations, healthcare and education sectors, social institutions, inclusive businesses, development organisations, government officials, and policy specialists worldwide.
A key focus of the event is giving prominence to self-advocates—people with intellectual disabilities who speak up for their rights—who will lead sessions and share their experiences directly with decision-makers. The congress will address core themes such as strengthening self-advocacy, training advocates, raising family awareness, amplifying voices to policymakers, supporting individuals during crises, improving mental health, planning for the future after parental loss, and enforcing international conventions.
Sue Swenson, President of Inclusion International, stated, “This World Congress marks a significant milestone for our movement. It is the first time we convene in the MENA region, partnering with Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services to bring our global network together.”
She added, “Our collaboration demonstrates the possibilities when regional leadership and global advocacy unite with a common goal. At the center are self-advocates, families, and organisations driving meaningful change. This is what true inclusion looks like. We are Inclusion.”
Through these focus areas, the Sharjah Congress builds on the emirate’s reputation as a global centre for humanitarian and rights-based initiatives, and as a gateway to new international cooperation aimed at empowering people with intellectual disabilities.
Inclusion International includes over 200 member organisations from 115 countries across five regions: the Middle East and North Africa (8 countries, 11 organisations); Europe (16 countries, 20 organisations); Africa (14 countries, 19 organisations); the Americas (16 countries, 34 organisations); and Asia and the Pacific (10 countries, 23 organisations). The organisation also represents people with intellectual disabilities and their families at the United Nations and other international platforms.
Beyond serving as a platform for sharing experiences and policies, the congress highlights Inclusion International’s significant achievements over the decades, including the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006, and the endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
SCHS calls on all stakeholders—including government and private sectors, civil society, academic institutions, parents, and experts—to participate in this global event, engage with its themes and recommendations, and help build inclusive, fair environments based on justice, equality, and human rights.