We, the representatives of non-governmental organizations including groups/organizations of persons with disabilities and their families, governments, regional and international organizations, bi-lateral and multi-lateral development agencies, comprising more than 1,200 delegates from 85 countries, met in Agra, India, from 26^th to 28^th November 2012, at the First CBR World Congress.

We sincerely thank the organizers, the CBR India Network in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), CBM and Sightsavers, with support from the Government of India through the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Throughout the Congress, we have greatly appreciated the warmth and hospitality of the people of India.

In agreement with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), other international human rights treaties and the CBR Guidelines 2010, CBR is considered to be an effective strategy for realizing the rights of people with disabilities, their families and other marginalized people in communities.

Therefore, key CBR partners such as the United Nations agencies, WHO in particular; the CBR Africa Network (CAN); the CBR Americas Network (CAsN); the CBR Asia-Pacific Network (CAPN); the International Disability Alliance (IDA); The Disabled People’s International (DPI); the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC); and the Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability (APCD) have agreed to set up a global initiative, the CBR Global Network, for sharing views, experiences and knowledge internationally.

In view of the perspectives throughout the three days of intensive discussion, the Congress makes the following recommendations:  

1.   Partnerships should be developed to promote and implement CBR internationally and to ensure that the efforts are coordinated among stakeholders, including disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), in collaboration with the CBR Global Network and other CBR networks;

2.   CBR should be part of development policies and programmes at the local, national and international levels, including discussions on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and post MDGs. This requires necessary resource allocations and involvement of women and men with disabilities, people with high support needs, children with disabilities and their families;

3.   Capacity building projects and programmes should be made available to CBR practitioners, including persons with disabilities and their families, in line with the CRPD and the CBR Guidelines;

4.   CBR should be adopted as an effective strategy for both poverty reduction and disaster risk reduction, enhancing the quality of life of women, men and children with disabilities, especially those living in developing countries;

5.   The Second CBR World Congress should be convened in Malaysia in 2016.

   Presented and unanimously adopted

at the First CBR World Congress, 28^th November 2012