S P E C I A L   I S S U E
to be launched at 11^th World Urban Forum in Katowice, 26-30 June 2022

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS  /  CALL FOR REVIEWERS  /  CALL FOR ASSISTANT EDITOR

This issue, produced in partnership with the World Blind Union in line with the commitments in the Abu Dhabi Declared Actions, seeks to raise awareness and foster learning around universal design, accessibility, and inclusion in public spaces. The issue will collect research articles (academic / max 8.000 words), case studies and viewpoints (non-academic /max 3.000 words), from academia, city professionals, city managers and officials, urban planners and civil society, including organisations of persons with disabilities (OPD).

The primary weight is intended to be on the diversity of persons with disabilities, their participation in designing public spaces, and accessibility in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) including CRPD Article 9, CRPD General Comment 2, Sustainable Development Goal 11, and the New Urban Agenda. Participation, accessibility, and universal design in line with these instruments are often overlooked in discussions and implementation of local projects related to urban spaces impacting enjoyment of rights and equality of opportunities in today’s urban areas. This issue also invites contributions reflecting perspectives on other marginalised groups in urban communities, including older persons, who face and experience accessibility barriers in public spaces.