10 December marks International Day of Human Rights, a worldwide day of acknowledgement of the protection and continuation of our human rights. AccessibAll is proud to join with like-minded partners and friends in celebrating this important day.

This is a specifically important topic for disabled people, in order to ensure an equal quality of life and inclusion. In Europe, disabled people are included under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and even more recent legislation like the European Accessibility Act of this year, which aims to ensure both digital and in-person services are of a consistent standard.

The theme for 2025 is “Everyday essentials,” with our target to highlight how actions in our daily lives can be incredibly impactful for disabled people. At AccessibAll, we operate using the social model of disability; this means that we believe society is the one that should adapt and change to fit all of our needs, including disabled people.

This theme is incredibly fitting given that disabled people make up roughly 16% of the world’s population, a figure that is predicted to increase as people live longer. This means it is more important than ever that we identify efficient and easy changes we can make which can have significant outcomes in improving inclusion and accessibility in everyday life.

Speaking on International Day of Human Rights, AccessibAll Global Advocate, Dominique Blanc, said, "In sport, the fundamental principles of human rights such as freedom and equality are well established. However, barriers remain that prevent many disabled people from taking part. As part of its mission, AccessibAll works wherever it is needed so that anyone who wishes to can access stadiums and share the joy of football on an equal basis with others".

It is also important that we acknowledge the additional costs that come for disabled people in everyday life. In the UK, Scope’s Extra Costs campaign and Disability Price Tag report found that in 2025, disabled households need on average an additional £1,095 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households. This is 8% higher than the previous report, reflecting the rising urgency to take action for disabled people and their families. We expect this trend to be mirrored across the global landscape.

Everyday essentials impacted by disability can include housing, transport, education and employment. It can even be the food you are able to eat or how you navigate the streets in your surrounding area. While there is a discussion surrounding many cities throughout Europe due to their historical design, there are examples of medieval cities which have been adapted to become more accessible, such as Breda in the Netherlands which won the 2019 Access City Award.

This makes AccessibAll’s work in making attending football matches inclusive and accessible even more important for us, despite not being an everyday action for most people. Being able to provide an experience from start to finish – including the ticket-buying process and travelling to the stadium – which is as accessible as possible can have wonderful effects on disabled people’s confidence, health and feelings of community.

It isn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch, but the transformative impact that the power of sport can have on all of our lives, seven days a week.

Wishing all like-minded partners and friends a very happy and progressive International Day of Human Rights!

Published 10/12/2025