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About Sightsavers’ campaigning

Globally, millions of people with disabilities are denied their basic rights. We’re campaigning to change this injustice by holding decision-makers to account.

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Watch our video to learn why we campaign

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More than a billion people around the world have a disability

The vast majority of people with disabilities live in low and middle income countries, and more than half are women. Many are denied access to basic human rights like education, health care, employment and political participation. We urgently need to change this, so everyone has the chance to earn, learn and thrive.

Sightsavers runs disability rights campaigns globally, regionally and nationally. While Sightsavers’ inclusive development programmes support people with disabilities to claim their rights and challenge discrimination, our campaigning calls for long-term policy change so people’s human rights are upheld around the globe.

Why do we campaign? Because we know a more fair and just world is possible. And if we work together, we can make it a reality.

How we’re taking action on disability rights

  • We gather signatures from thousands of people around the world to influence policymakers and call for global action on disability rights
  • We collaborate with disability organisations to ensure people with disabilities are represented and involved in the decisions that affect their lives
  • We work at the UN to help shape decision-making and hold governments to account on global commitments
  • We run national campaigns in countries to raise awareness about disability inclusion and achieve lasting policy change

You can help us take action by joining our latest campaign.

Ese from Ghana, smiling at the camera in a leafy garden.

“We’re giving people a chance to have their rights respected”

Meet our campaigners

What we’re doing: our current campaigns

Equal World Global Youth Champion, Basiru, smiles for the camera.

Amplifying young people’s voices

We’re calling for global decision-makers to listen to young people with disabilities. When UN member states meet to agree commitments to accelerate the SDGs, we want young voices to be heard and represented.

Members of the Equal Zimbabwe steering committee and other attendees of the launch event.

National campaigns in Africa and Asia

We’re running national campaigns in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe to promote disability rights and influence governments to enact inclusive legislation that aligns with the UNCRPD.

Salma Haji Saadat

African Disability Protocol (ADP) campaign

With the ADP ratified across the African Union, we’re now calling on countries to update their national disability laws in line with the treaty, and calling on other nations take the next step and ratify the ADP.

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View our campaigning timeline

What does our campaigning focus on?

A young girl sits at a desk in a classroom. Other students sit at desks to her right.

Education

In low and middle income countries, children with disabilities, particularly girls, are far less likely to attend school than their peers.

A woman with a physical disability sits near some crops. A walking crutch is on the floor next to her.

Employment

People with disabilities often face barriers to employment and financial independence, from discrimination to inaccessible environments.

A woman wearing a headscarf is having her eyes tested. A health care worker is placing different lenses in the optometry glasses.

Health care

Many people with disabilities are denied access to vital health care and health information. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased this inequality.

Political participation

Barriers to political participation for people with disabilities can include inaccessible voting materials, lack of ID documentation and verbal abuse.

Two women wearing hijabs laugh together during a workshop.

Gender

Women and girls with disabilities often face both gender and disability discrimination, and many experience violence and domestic abuse.

A group of people with disabilities gathers for a team photo.

Tackling discrimination

In many of the countries where we work, attitudes towards disability are negative and based on fear, stigma or superstition.

Want to hear more about Sightsavers’ campaigns?

A girl, who has albinism and is wearing glasses and a mask, sits in a classroom.
Eleven-year-old Noutene, who has albinism, attends an inclusive school in Mali.
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Campaigns

Campaigning for disability rights around the world

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