NewsElection debate – The Netherlands is not an island

During the election debate organized by the Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD) and Partos (on September 15) politicians from Dutch political parties SP, GroenLinks/PvdA, D66, ChristenUnie and CDA discussed development cooperation in times of crisis.

Important topics for discussion were inclusion and accessibility. People with disabilities already face exclusion in everyday life, but in crisis or conflict situations, policymakers tend to forget about them altogether. Wars or pandemics restrict access to specialized care, therapy and education for people with disabilities, further reducing their independence and well-being.

The political parties present therefore argued that accessibility and equal participation should be embedded in all policymaking, not just in specific projects. This means making policies that consider from the start whether aid projects and foreign policy are inclusive, rather than making adjustments retrospectively.

The election debate showed that international solidarity and civil society are not a luxury, but a necessity.