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About Sightsavers’ campaigning

Learn why we’re taking a stand, how we persuade decision-makers to change their approach, and how you can make your voice heard.

On this page

What drives our campaigning? In our film, disability advocate Abia Akram meets three young people with disabilities to learn about their daily lives.

On this page

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

Did you know 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, to make sure everyone has the chance to earn, learn and thrive.

  • We run global, regional and national campaigns to raise awareness and call for disability rights.
  • We influence long-term policy change so people’s human rights are upheld around the globe.
  • Our campaigning complements Sightsavers’ inclusive development programmes, which support people with disabilities to claim their rights and challenge discrimination.
Photo: a woman wearing glasses sits in front of a wall.

“We need to empower all people with disabilities, and we have to work together.”

Meet our campaigners

How we take action on disability rights

We collaborate

We work with disability organisations to ensure people with disabilities are represented and involved in the decisions that affect their lives.

We advocate

We make our voices heard globally, regionally and nationally, to shape decision-making and ensure we hold governments to account.

We speak up

We raise awareness about the importance of upholding disability rights, and the wide-reaching benefits of inclusion.

What does our campaigning focus on?

Pedzi smiling for the camera, standing with crutches.

Education

In low and middle income countries, children with disabilities, particularly girls, are far less likely to go to school.
Read headteacher Pedzi's story

Senezi, aka 'Lady S', in her wheelchair smiling at the camera.

Employment

People with disabilities often face barriers when trying to earn a living, from discrimination to inaccessibility.
Learn how Senzeni returned to work

A man seated in a wheelchair in a walled garden.

Health care

Many people with disabilities are denied access to vital health care and the health information they need.
Read Tsepang's story

Nasima, a woman from Bangladesh, in her wheelchair smiling, wearing an orange headscarf.

Political participation

Barriers to political participation can include inaccessible voting materials, lack of ID and verbal abuse.
How Nasima is fighting for inclusion

Florence wears a T-shirt with an Equal Zimbabwe logo. She's sitting in her wheelchair in a lush green garden.

Gender

Women with disabilities often face gender and disability discrimination. Many experience violence and abuse.
Meet Florence and hear her story

A woman stands with smiling at the camera. Behind her is a bustling market.

Tackling discrimination

In many of the countries where we work, attitudes towards disability are based on fear, stigma or superstition.
Read how Sharon is calling for change

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Tanzanian campaigner Ussy Khamas is interviewed on TV camera as a journalist holds two microphones for him.

See what we’ve achieved

Tanzanian campaigner Ussy Khamas is interviewed on TV camera as a journalist holds two microphones for him.
In the past 13 years, our campaigning work has helped to change laws, ensured people can claim their rights, made waves at the United Nations and transformed how disability is viewed around the world.
Read about our achievements

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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