Universal design is present in all human rights

The United Nations formally recognized the concept of universal design by writing it into its Convention on Disability in 2006.

Under the Convention, States parties recognize the importance of universal design, defined in article 2 as 'the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design', not excluding 'assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed'. The Convention also establishes the obligation of States parties to undertake or promote research into a development of universally designed goods, services, equipment and facilities, in line with the provisions of article, as well as to promote universal design in the development of standards and guidelines”.

-UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2007, article 4 (f)

When Denmark joined the Convention on Disability in 2009, we made a commitment to integrate and develop universal design in research, teaching and regulatory frameworks.

The UN expanded the original definition from the design of products and environments to include “programmi e servizi” (schemes and offers). Thus, universal design is not just about products and environments, but about the framework of all life lived. That is, working life, education, legislation, support systems, technology, digital life, sport, leisure, culture and everything in between^{! 1}.

Emphasized in the Convention on Disability but implicitly found in older treaties

The Convention on Disability reflects a number of rights already found in older treaties, but with the Convention on Disability they have been put into a more modern and disability-specific context.

This is what Anna Lawson, professor of law and disability studies at the University of Leeds, points out. The Bevica Foundation spoke to her in connection with the Universal Design conference in Oslo in 2024.

Although it is in the Convention on Disability that universal design is highlighted as a comprehensive obligation, the concept and principles are also found across the other treaties, she believes.

“Apart from places where the words “universal design” are read in treaties, it is implicit in all other human rights. It has been widely acknowledged by using the concept of accessibility, but universal design is part of accessibility,” she notes.

The right to education, health and work presupposes universal design

Anna Lawson cites three examples where this applies: in the right to education, the right to health and the right to work.

“Without universal design, one will necessarily exclude. You are bound to discriminate. It must be at the heart of thinking about the implementation of all human rights,” she notes.

Governments must be reminded of universal design commitment

And what more concrete needs to be done to implement the commitment — and that is to say the right to — universal design and accessibility?

Anna Lawson is the first to point to the need for governments to be constantly reminded of that commitment. In other words, we need to maintain local, grassroots-driven efforts, that is, the initiatives that come from below, because we cannot rely only on it happening from above.

“Therefore, foundations and organizations for people with disabilities must constantly work to remind the governments of the countries that have ratified this treaty that there are obligations on universal design and accessibility in the Convention on Disabilities,” she believes.

Nothing about us without us

Secondly, governments must constantly be reminded of “nothing about us without us”.

“Another key point is the principle of “nothing about us without us”. That is, we must constantly remind governments that people with disabilities — through their representative organizations — must be involved in shaping policies,” she stresses.

“Nothing about us without us.”^{! 2}) expresses the idea that the people whose lives will be affected by a decision should be involved in the decision-making process. The motto has roots far back, but has been used as a slogan in the global disability movement since the 1990s.

The conversation must go across sectors

Thirdly, she highlights the importance of ensuring that the conversation goes across sectors, so that both professionals and disability organisations are involved.

“Another important dimension of the implementation of the right to universal design, or the commitments of universal design, is really to ensure that professionals are part of the conversation together with organizations for people with disabilities. We need experts in architecture, transport and IT to be part of the dialogue. It has to be a cross-sectoral conversation — that's really important,” she says.

We spoke with Anna Lawson at the international conference on universal design, UD Conference 2024, in Oslo, where Anna Lawson was one of the speakers. The conference was organised by the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family (Bufdir).

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