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About the Equal World campaign

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

Equal World is a disability rights campaign run by Sightsavers. 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 the Equal World 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.

Ruth, a young girl who attends an inclusive school in Zambia.

African Disability Protocol (ADP) campaign

With the ADP now 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 campaign timeline

What does the campaign focus on?

Outside, a male teacher stands in front of a blackboard holding a young child. In one hand he has a stick, which he is using to teach the letters on the blackboard. A man and woman also stand around the board, watching the lesson.

Education

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

Jeniffer prepares the crops outside her home.

Employment

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

A group of people, some with physical disabilities, wait to be seen by health care staff at a clinic.

Health care

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

A man from cameroon is stood side on to the camera holding crutches in both hands

Political participation

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

Two women stand next to each other while smiling. One of the women has her arms around the other.

Gender

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

A woman in the distance on a dusty tree lined road in Malawi

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 the Equal World campaign?

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

Equal World: Our campaign for disability rights

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