Steps Towards Achieving Inclusion for People with Disabilities in Timor-Leste

Abstract

Timor-Leste is one of the least developed countries in the Asia–Pacific region, ranked at 128 out of 187 countries on the 2014 Human Development Index. To help address high levels of poverty and inequality, the country is a signatory to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which commits to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. These goals are built on the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’, meaning that the goals cannot be considered achieved if they are not met for everyone, including people with disabilities. This In Brief suggests how Timor- Leste can ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in the country’s continued progress towards inclusive and sustainable development.