2025 International day of persons with disabilities: Fostering societies that promote participation for the progress of all

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05/11/2025

Nguyệt Hà

Every year on December 3, the world celebrates the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPwD) – a moment to honor the roles and contributions of persons with disabilities, and to reaffirm the global commitment to ensuring their full and equal participation in all aspects of social life.

In 2025, the United Nations has chosen the theme “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress” – a powerful reminder that participation is not only a goal for persons with disabilities, but also the foundation for sustainable development for all humankind. A society can only be truly progressive when every individual has the opportunity to contribute, to be heard, and to be respected.

In Vietnam, this spirit is being realized through a wide range of policies and initiatives that enhance access to education, healthcare, employment, and technology for persons with disabilities. The country currently has around seven million persons with disabilities, accounting for nearly seven percent of the population. Every improvement – from urban planning and transportation systems to digital transformation – helps open the doors of social participation for millions.

However, challenges remain. According to the General Statistics Office and UNICEF survey (2016 - 2017), persons with disabilities in Viet Nam still have significantly lower rates of schooling, employment, and access to public services compared to the national average. They continue to face not only physical barriers but also informational and attitudinal ones – subtle yet deeply impactful obstacles to meaningful participation.

That is why the 2025 theme calls on individuals, organizations, and governments to take collective action – to make “building participatory societies” no longer an abstract idea but a daily practice. Participation begins with small, tangible changes: a more accessible ramp for wheelchair users, an adapted lesson for a student who is deaf or hard of hearing, or simply a respectful and attentive conversation. When everyone is empowered to develop and contribute, communities become stronger, more compassionate, and more resilient.

In celebration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC) continues to work hand in hand with national and international partners to promote the values of equality, respect, and participation. Through programs that build capacity, improve accessibility, and strengthen the voices of persons with disabilities, ACDC believes that every action – no matter how small – contributes to meaningful and lasting change.

When persons with disabilities are truly given access, meaningful participation, and opportunities to reach their full potential, society becomes more complete, equitable, and sustainable. The 2025 theme – “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress” – is not just a reminder; it is an invitation: an invitation to act, to participate, and to transform.

Let us take action today so that December 3 is not only a commemoration but a step forward – toward a society that is truly participatory and progressive for everyone.

Themes from previous years

2024: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.
2023: United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities.
2022: Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world.
2021: Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.
2020: Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World.
2019: Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda.
2018: Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.
2017: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all.
2016: Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want.
2015: Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities.
2014: Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology.
2013: Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all.
2012: Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all.
2011: Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.
2010: Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond.
2009: Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world.
2008: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us.
2007: Decent work for persons with disabilities.
2006: E-Accessibility.
2005: Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development.
2004: Nothing About Us Without Us.
2003: A Voice of our Own.
2002: Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihoods.
2001: Full participation and equality: The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome.
2000: Making information technologies work for all.
1999: Accessibility for all for the new Millennium.
1998: Arts, Culture and Independent Living.