Equal World – fighting for disability rights

The campaign

#EqualWorld

Around the world, there are one billion people with disabilities. 800 million live in developing countries, and more than half are women. For many, basic human rights – to go to school, to find a job, to vote, to access health care – are routinely denied. This is caused by discrimination, and made worse by laws and policies that say all the right things but haven’t been fully put into practice.

It’s unacceptable that in 2020 disability rights are something we still have to fight for. But if enough of us raise our voices, we have incredible power to create a movement for change. We’re calling on the UN and its member states to protect, defend and promote the rights of people with disabilities worldwide.

Covid-19: an update from Sightsavers CEO Caroline Harper

Mirriam standing in front of a crowd of people.

Why we campaign

Disability discrimination affects millions of people around the world. But this is not an inevitable situation – together, we can change it.

Get inspired

Read and share the experiences of disability activists, campaigners, and participants in Sightsavers’ education, employment and empowerment programmes.

Will you fight with us?

What we're calling for

The rights of people with disabilities to be upheld
Governments and organisations to show leadership on disability inclusion
People with disabilities to have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives
The UN and world leaders to be held accountable for putting inclusive policies into action

Campaigning worldwide

Together we can end disability discrimination

The UN has published a disability strategy, committing to the full inclusion and active participation of people with disabilities in all its work. We need to make sure that it translates from words to action, and results in the UN’s member states making real improvements in the lives of people with disabilities around the world.

We’re taking action for disability rights in countries around the world, from Bangladesh to Uganda. Find out more by choosing a country from the dropdown list below.