GDI Hub's Contribution at CPD58: Advancing Gender-Inclusive Assistive Technology
At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, during the Commission on Population and Development's Fifty-Eighth Session (CPD58), the GDI Hub participated in a side event focused on health, well-being, and inclusion through equitable access to assistive technology (AT), hosted by WHO and alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, UNICEF and the National Senior Citizens Centre.
This event brought together global experts, including the GDI Hub's Senior Adviser Cara Yar Khan, to address the challenges of access to assistive technology and its transformative potential for people with disabilities, older adults, and underserved communities around the world.
This blog explores what was discussed at the event, why it matters, and how the GDI Hub is helping drive change in this space.
The Urgent Need for Inclusive Access to Assistive Technology
Assistive technology (AT) - such as prosthetics and hearing aids – is a life changing tool for health, inclusion, and well-being for up to one-third of the global population. From mobility aids to digital tools, these devices help people perform daily tasks, participate in education and work, and lead independent lives.
However, there are stark inequities in the availability and accessibility of these technologies. For many, the journey to acquiring AT is fraught with challenges that often result in exclusion. These challenges are not just logistical but embedded in systems perpetuating social, cultural, and gender biases.
"The very mechanisms of obtaining AT prescription and provision are riddled with gender bias… equitable access to AT is not just about the devices; it's about dismantling systemic gender biases in access pathways, affordability, service provision, and personnel attitudes." - Cara Yar Khan, GDI Hub.
Breaking Down Gender Disparities in Assistive Technology Access
Cara raised the profound gender disparity in how assistive technology is provided and accessed during the event. Often, women and girls face barriers that men and boys do not, leaving them underserved in critical ways. These inequities span several areas, including unequal access and gender bias in prescription and provision.
While the barriers are significant, concrete solutions were also raised, including those identified by GDI Hub’s UK International Development funded AT2030 programme:
- Gender-aware training: Equip AT professionals to understand and meet the specific needs of women and girls.
- Improve data collection: Gather better gender-specific data to inform inclusive policymaking.
- Accessible and affordable services: Ensure AT services, including repairs, are affordable, respectful, and easy to access.
- Put people first: Prioritise dignity, autonomy, and person-centred care.
- Tackle bias: Challenge gendered and ableist assumptions through training and awareness.
Ultimately, a key theme from this side event was the urgent need for the disability inclusion sector to champion equitable access to assistive technology not simply to increase the number of users but to help build an inclusive society where everyone can live with dignity and fully participate in all aspects of life.
Looking Ahead
The work discussed at CPD58 is just the beginning. The future of assistive technology lies in collaborative, multi-sectoral partnerships that bring together governments, NGOs, the private sector, and advocacy groups like GDI Hub to create sustainable and inclusive solutions.
As we tackle these challenges head-on, GDI Hub is committed to ensuring that the voices of women, girls, and marginalised communities are heard and that the systems perpetuating inequity are dismantled.
The next step is clear: we must invest in a world where assistive technology is not a luxury but a universal right. By doing so, we can create a future where everyone can lead a life of independence, dignity, and opportunity regardless of their circumstances.
We're proud to have been part of this crucial conversation hosted by WHO, alongside:
- Chris Carter, Deputy Director and Head of the Human Development Department, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, United Kingdom
- David Constantine MBE, President, International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics and Co-founder, Motivation Charitable Trust
- Gopal Mitra, Global Lead on Disability and Development, UNICEF
- Chen Zhao, Youth Advocate, UNICEF China
- Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief, Programme on Ageing Unit, DESA, United Nations
- Dr Emem Omokaro, Director General, National Senior Citizens Centre, Nigeria
- Kylie Shae, Team Lead, Access to Assistive Technology, World Health Organization
- Dónal Cronin, Deputy Permanent Resident, Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York
We look forward to continuing to work alongside global partners to make this vision a reality.