When states across India announced a sudden lockdown in March due to COVID-19, many people struggled to support themselves as businesses closed and services came to a halt.

People – particularly women – with disabilities are most at risk, not just of transmission of COVID-19, but of being left out of government responses to the pandemic. They may be are unable to get vital medications they need, social distancing rules may mean they may miss out on carers’ visits, and people with visual and hearing impairments may not receive important government messages if they are not available in accessible formats.

Sightsavers staff around India are working hard to make sure that during the pandemic, nobody is excluded because of disability or gender. We meet two of the inspiring women who are ensuring people with disabilities get the support they need during this challenging time.

When states across India announced a sudden lockdown in March due to COVID-19, many people struggled to support themselves as businesses closed and services came to a halt.

People – particularly women – with disabilities are most at risk, not just of transmission of COVID-19, but of being left out of government responses to the pandemic. They may be are unable to get vital medications they need, social distancing rules may mean they may miss out on carers’ visits, and people with visual and hearing impairments may not receive important government messages if they are not available in accessible formats.

Sightsavers staff around India are working hard to make sure that during the pandemic, nobody is excluded because of disability or gender. We meet two of the inspiring women who are ensuring people with disabilities get the support they need during this challenging time.

Neha

Neha is leader of a disabled people’s organisation (DPO) from Hazaribag district, which receives many calls for support from people with disabilities. She has found that many women with disabilities are experiencing lots of problems due to social distancing. Some are dependent on a caretaker for daily activities and personal care and lack food support as they have no work and no income. This leads to a lot of stress and fear.

Neha was given leadership training through Sightsavers’ social inclusion programmes and now, at 26 years old, leads the Hazaribag DPO. In response to the lockdown, Neha started a digital platform and created a group on WhatsApp to connect people with disabilities so they can share their problems and emotions. Through the group, Neha has been able to convey specific needs to local authorities. She has also used the platform to provide regular government updates and health information on COVID-19, and has ensured that people with disabilities can access rations, support funds and cooked food.

Neha has also been doing continuous advocacy work with the district administration and is now a member of the Hazaribag District Voluntary Committee on COVID-19 response. And on top of all of this, she is actively involved in educating people with disabilities by doing skills assessments and social media engagement.

Savita

Savita, who’s 24, was born with a physical disability and grew up in poverty in a remote village in Chhattisgarh, India. During her childhood, Savita struggled to understand why she was different from other children, but as the years passed, she decided to live life on her own terms and dictate her own future. She had ambitions to study, and having accomplished this – graduating without any support from her family members – Savita turned her focus towards working for the rights of people with disabilities. She joined the local DPO and was elected as its president in 2019.

Savita’s efforts during the COVID-19 crisis have been admirable. She has been making cloth masks for people in need, and she donated one month of her disability pension to the state COVID-19 relief fund. She has been working with other DPO leaders to provide financial assistance to people with serious and multiple disabilities in the region during the lockdown period. Under Savita’s leadership the DPO members have also helped the local administration in identifying people who need support (particularly people with disabilities) and distributing relief supplies.

“My contribution may seem small [compared to] large amounts being donated by others,” Savita says. “But I am hopeful that my donation will definitely contribute to fulfilling someone’s needs.” She adds that for as long as possible, she will continue to work for people in need, and she wants to help spread awareness about COVID-19 prevention among other people with disabilities.

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign has launched a petition calling for the United Nations and the Irish government to make sure the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Equal World COVID-19 petition was launched in response to reports from around the world of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people with disabilities. The pandemic has increased the existing discrimination and inequality faced by people with disabilities, many of whom already experience barriers in trying to claim their rights to education, work, health care and participation in society.

A lack of information in accessible formats like sign language and closed captioning means that many people are left unaware of vital public health advice or information on government curfews. For some, lockdowns and social distancing have created problems as carers are less able to visit, leaving many people struggling with their personal care requirements. People with disabilities living in institutions face an increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and online learning measures to meet the gap left by school closures are often not accessible for students with disabilities.

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign has launched a petition calling for the United Nations and its member countries to make sure the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Equal World COVID-19 petition was launched in response to reports from around the world of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people with disabilities. The pandemic has increased the existing discrimination and inequality faced by people with disabilities, many of whom already experience barriers in trying to claim their rights to education, work, health care and participation in society.

A lack of information in accessible formats like sign language and closed captioning means that many people are left unaware of vital public health advice or information on government curfews. For some, lockdowns and social distancing have created problems as carers are less able to visit, leaving many people struggling with their personal care requirements. People with disabilities living in institutions face an increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and online learning measures to meet the gap left by school closures are often not accessible for students with disabilities.

Tessa Murphy, Sightsavers’ campaign manager, said: “The needs of people with disabilities must be prioritised in national responses to the pandemic. People with disabilities already often exist on the periphery of their communities, their full inclusion into society hindered by a variety of barriers and widespread discrimination. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will be devastating if the specific needs of people with disabilities are not met by national governments.

“We are calling upon the global community to stand up for the rights of people with disabilities and urge the world’s leaders to ensure the needs of people with disabilities are not neglected in the face of the huge challenges of responding to the pandemic.”

Sightsavers is also part of the inclusion campaign led by the International Disability Alliance and the International Disability and Development Consortium, which is highlighting the experiences of people with disabilities and has seen progress towards vital information being more widely available in accessible formats.

Take action: sign the Equal World COVID-19 petition

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign has launched a petition calling for the United Nations and the Irish government to make sure the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Equal World COVID-19 petition was launched in response to reports from around the world of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people with disabilities. The pandemic has increased the existing discrimination and inequality faced by people with disabilities, many of whom already experience barriers in trying to claim their rights to education, work, health care and participation in society.

A lack of information in accessible formats like sign language and closed captioning means that many people are left unaware of vital public health advice or information on government curfews. For some, lockdowns and social distancing have created problems as carers are less able to visit, leaving many people struggling with their personal care requirements. People with disabilities living in institutions face an increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and online learning measures to meet the gap left by school closures are often not accessible for students with disabilities.

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign has launched a petition calling for the United Nations and its member countries to make sure the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic is inclusive of people with disabilities.

The Equal World COVID-19 petition was launched in response to reports from around the world of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on people with disabilities. The pandemic has increased the existing discrimination and inequality faced by people with disabilities, many of whom already experience barriers in trying to claim their rights to education, work, health care and participation in society.

A lack of information in accessible formats like sign language and closed captioning means that many people are left unaware of vital public health advice or information on government curfews. For some, lockdowns and social distancing have created problems as carers are less able to visit, leaving many people struggling with their personal care requirements. People with disabilities living in institutions face an increased risk of exposure to the coronavirus, and online learning measures to meet the gap left by school closures are often not accessible for students with disabilities.

Global health leaders have been urged to make sure people with disabilities are not discriminated against during the COVID-19 pandemic, and are able to access the healthcare they need.

A statement issued by Sightsavers to the World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of World Health Organization (WHO) member states, on 18 May called for support in making sure responses to the current global health crisis were inclusive and accessible to all.

It commended the WHO on its leadership on COVID-19, and asked for support in making sure people with disabilities are able to access healthcare facilities, as well as messaging about public health, quarantine and emergency response measures.

Dom Haslam, Sightsavers’ deputy CEO, said: “People with disabilities face excessive barriers to accessing healthcare in normal times, and it has become increasingly clear that this has only been exacerbated further in the current challenging climate.

“We urge governments to ensure the rights and needs of people with disabilities are effectively covered in COVID-19 responses. Decisions taken on allocating resources must never be taken based on pre-existing conditions or medical bias against people with disabilities.”

Reports from the WHO and other UN agencies say people with disabilities are being disproportionately affected by COVID-19, not only because of increased risk for people with existing health conditions, but also because of discrimination in the health, economic and other responses by governments to the COVID-19 crisis.

Sightsavers is also supporting a new campaign launched by two leading disability rights organisations calling on governments around the world to ensure that people with disabilities must be included in the measures to contain and treat COVID-19.

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) and International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) said there was a concerning lack of protocols to ensure disability inclusion during emergency and COVID-19 responses, and worrying accounts that the people with disabilities were having to shoulder some of the worst effects of virus.

Sightsavers’ disability inclusion adviser, Shikuku Obosi, urges journalists and government officials to use disability-friendly language when discussing COVID-19 in a new comment piece published in the media.

In the online media platform Devex, Shikuku challenges articles and speeches which seek to reassure audiences by saying it is “only” elderly and chronically ill people who are at serious risk of COVID-19.

As someone who grew up with a disability in Kenya, Shikuku argues such language is misguided and can worsen anxieties for people who are at an increased risk.

“The message that I take from this is that there are certain people who are ‘acceptable losses’… who are considered to be more disposable,” he writes. “The language used at times… seems to ignore the fact that the people being talked about as ‘vulnerable’ may also be reading the same articles.”

Dom Haslam, Sightsavers’ deputy CEO, says: “Shikuku’s argument is powerful and highlights why not only universal healthcare but an inclusive approach to all aspects of life are critical.

“We stand with the World Health Organization when we say that no matter who you are or where you come from, everyone is entitled to access quality healthcare on an equal basis.”

Read the full piece here on Devex.

People with disabilities are often left behind and Sightsavers is making it a priority to prevent that from happening with the COVID-19 response. We are doing this by ensuring we shine a spotlight on the impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities, who could be disproportionally affected, both in terms of potentially being more at risk and less able to access health services, and also in terms of the impact on the support services they require.

Sightsavers’ disability inclusion adviser, Shikuku Obosi, urges journalists and government officials to use disability-friendly language when discussing COVID-19 in a new comment piece published in the media.

In the online media platform Devex, Shikuku challenges articles and speeches which seek to reassure audiences by saying it is “only” elderly and chronically ill people who are at serious risk of COVID-19.

As someone who grew up with a disability in Kenya, Shikuku argues such language is misguided and can worsen anxieties for people who are at an increased risk.

“The message that I take from this is that there are certain people who are ‘acceptable losses’… who are considered to be more disposable,” he writes. “The language used at times… seems to ignore the fact that the people being talked about as ‘vulnerable’ may also be reading the same articles.”

Dom Haslam, Sightsavers’ deputy CEO, says: “Shikuku’s argument is powerful and highlights why not only universal healthcare but an inclusive approach to all aspects of life are critical.

“We stand with the World Health Organization when we say that no matter who you are or where you come from, everyone is entitled to access quality healthcare on an equal basis.”

Read the full piece here on Devex.

People with disabilities are often left behind and Sightsavers is making it a priority to prevent that from happening with the COVID-19 response. We are doing this by ensuring we shine a spotlight on the impact of COVID-19 on people with disabilities, who could be disproportionally affected, both in terms of potentially being more at risk and less able to access health services, and also in terms of the impact on the support services they require.

As part of the Connecting the Dots programme, in partnership with Sense International, we are making sure people with deafblindness can live independent lives.

Most families would have difficulties communicating with a child with visual or hearing impairments, but for the families of children who are deafblind, this comes with its own unique challenges.

Alice Nabbanja of Sense International tells us how the programme supported 14-year-old Hellen and her family from Masindi, Uganda, by helping them communicate with each other, and teaching them to rear pigs so they can support themselves financially.

Hellen has a supportive and loving family, yet when Alice met them they were unable to communicate with her. “There was a distance between them. Hellen could not express herself; and no-one can express themselves to her,” says Alice. “She wanted to be near them, but due to her unique behaviours, everyone feared she might hurt them. Likewise, she doesn’t know when she is safe around someone.”

Alice taught the family how to communicate with Hellen without using speech or visuals. She explains that first she showed the family how to establish their presence in a non-threatening way, on entering a room.

“They saw how I sat with Hellen and like magic, in a few minutes she was very comfortable with me. She knew I was a guest, a stranger, but not a dangerous one.

“We sat quietly, which gave Hellen time to come and find us. She touched, and felt everyone, and smelled us up close to differentiate between us. She could feel who were the men, and when she decided which of us she wanted to befriend, she came and sat close to us. The family observed and learned.”

Establishing a routine is also an important tool in helping deafblind children do tasks independently. To help with this, Alice provided a ‘calendar box’ which contains everyday essential objects, such as a toothbrush, a cup, a comb, and getting Hellen to touch these helps her to understand what to expect next.

As part of the Connecting the Dots programme, in partnership with Sense International, we are making sure people with deafblindness can live independent lives.

Most families would have difficulties communicating with a child with visual or hearing impairments, but for the families of children who are deafblind, this comes with its own unique challenges.

Alice Nabbanja of Sense International tells us how the programme supported 14-year-old Hellen and her family from Masindi, Uganda, by helping them communicate with each other, and teaching them to rear pigs so they can support themselves financially.

Hellen has a supportive and loving family, yet when Alice met them they were unable to communicate with her. “There was a distance between them. Hellen could not express herself; and no-one can express themselves to her,” says Alice. “She wanted to be near them, but due to her unique behaviours, everyone feared she might hurt them. Likewise, she doesn’t know when she is safe around someone.”

Alice taught the family how to communicate with Hellen without using speech or visuals. She explains that first she showed the family how to establish their presence in a non-threatening way, on entering a room.

“They saw how I sat with Hellen and like magic, in a few minutes she was very comfortable with me. She knew I was a guest, a stranger, but not a dangerous one.

“We sat quietly, which gave Hellen time to come and find us. She touched, and felt everyone, and smelled us up close to differentiate between us. She could feel who were the men, and when she decided which of us she wanted to befriend, she came and sat close to us. The family observed and learned.”

Establishing a routine is also an important tool in helping deafblind children do tasks independently. To help with this, Alice provided a ‘calendar box’ which contains everyday essential objects, such as a toothbrush, a cup, a comb, and getting Hellen to touch these helps her to understand what to expect next.

Teaching children to smile

It can be distressing for parents of deafblind children when they are unable to smile. Facial expressions are such an important way to express our feelings, yet Hellen had never seen them, so had not been able to mimic them as other children do. Hellen’s mother would blame herself: ‘What have I done wrong to have never made my daughter smile?’ she asked.

Alice tells us how she taught Hellen to smile and laugh by using touch. “I got her to touch my face and I made various facial expressions. Then I would touch her face, and she started imitating me.

“I also taught her how to laugh – I made ‘hahaha’ sounds. She touched me and then copied what I had done, and began to laugh.”

Hellen’s greatest challenge was that other children feared her. So Alice worked with her siblings and the children in her neighbourhood to help them understand how she experiences the world, and to find ways to include her appropriately in their games.

“To see her now, smiling as she joins in a game with her siblings, I see the difference Sense International and Sightsavers has made. As a parent, to see your child happy, is as much as you can ask for.”

Sightsavers’ work with Sense International supporting young people with deaf blindness and complex disabilities has been made possible thanks to funding by the National Lottery Community Fund.

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign is calling for better representation of women, as well as people with learning disabilities and people from developing countries, on the United Nations disability committee.

The committee, which monitors how countries are meeting the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), is currently made up of six women and 12 men. Elections for nine positions on the committee will be held in June 2020 at the 13th Conference of States Parties to the CRPD at UN headquarters in New York.

Tessa Murphy, Sightsavers’ campaign manager, says: “Sightsavers previously called for better representation of women with disabilities in 2018. At that time there was only one woman on the committee, who was due to step down, but following global support on the issue, six women were elected.

“While this was a great improvement, there’s still a way to go to achieve gender equality on the committee. In this year’s election, our Equal World campaign is calling for diversity of representation on the committee, so that it can adequately represent people with disabilities, including women, people with varying disabilities and people from developing countries.”

Nominations for the committee are open until April, and there are currently six women on the list of nominees.

Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign is calling for better representation of women, as well as people with learning disabilities and people from developing countries, on the United Nations disability committee.

The committee, which monitors how countries are meeting the requirements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), is currently made up of six women and 12 men. Elections for nine positions on the committee will be held in June 2020 at the 13th Conference of States Parties to the CRPD at UN headquarters in New York.

Tessa Murphy, Sightsavers’ campaign manager, says: “Sightsavers previously called for better representation of women with disabilities in 2018. At that time there was only one woman on the committee, who was due to step down, but following global support on the issue, six women were elected.

“While this was a great improvement, there’s still a way to go to achieve gender equality on the committee. In this year’s election, our Equal World campaign is calling for diversity of representation on the committee, so that it can adequately represent people with disabilities, including women, people with varying disabilities and people from developing countries.”

Nominations for the committee are open until April, and there are currently six women on the list of nominees.

Sightsavers has been awarded Disability Confident Employer Level 3 accreditation for our work promoting disability inclusion in the workplace.

The status is the highest level an organisation can achieve and is handed out to a select group of employers who have shown themselves to be leaders in this field.

The accolade is given out by Disability Confident, which aims to change attitudes towards people with disabilities in the workplace, encouraging organisations to take action to recruit, train and develop staff with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

The scheme, run by the UK government, aims to make workplaces more inclusive and develop the potential of all their staff members.

7.9 million people of working age in the UK have a disability, so the scheme also encourages employers to draw candidates from the widest pool of talent and gives people with disabilities around the country better opportunities to find employment.

Sightsavers CEO Dr Caroline Harper said: “I am very proud that we have received the highest level of this award, which encourages employers to think differently about disability.

“It is so important to be inclusive in the workplace, and take action to improve how we recruit, retain and develop the potential of people with disabilities. This is an area close to our hearts, given our mission to promote disability inclusion. We are living our mission and practising what we preach.”

Sightsavers’ internal Social Inclusion Working Group, established to help reach diversity goals in the workplace, was also recently nominated for a Bond Diversity Award.

Sightsavers has been awarded Disability Confident Employer Level 3 accreditation for our work promoting disability inclusion in the workplace.

The status is the highest level an organisation can achieve and is handed out to a select group of employers who have shown themselves to be leaders in this field.

The accolade is given out by Disability Confident, which aims to change attitudes towards people with disabilities in the workplace, encouraging organisations to take action to recruit, train and develop staff with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

The scheme, run by the UK government, aims to make workplaces more inclusive and develop the potential of all their staff members.

7.9 million people of working age in the UK have a disability, so the scheme also encourages employers to draw candidates from the widest pool of talent and gives people with disabilities around the country better opportunities to find employment.

Sightsavers CEO Dr Caroline Harper said: “I am very proud that we have received the highest level of this award, which encourages employers to think differently about disability.

“It is so important to be inclusive in the workplace, and take action to improve how we recruit, retain and develop the potential of people with disabilities. This is an area close to our hearts, given our mission to promote disability inclusion. We are living our mission and practising what we preach.”

Sightsavers’ internal Social Inclusion Working Group, established to help reach diversity goals in the workplace, was also recently nominated for a Bond Diversity Award.

In Sierra Leone, you’re helping to give visually impaired children like Abdul the chance to gain an education.

Last year we revisited our Education for All project in the Bombali district, Sierra Leone, and met 13-year-old Abdul.

Abdul is one of many children who has benefited from a Sightsavers project that aims to give all children with disabilities access to better quality education.

In Sierra Leone, you’re helping to give visually impaired children like Abdul the chance to gain an education.

Last year Pádraic Mannion visited our Education for All project in the Bombali district, Sierra Leone, and met 13-year-old Abdul.

Abdul is one of many children who has benefited from a Sightsavers project that aims to give all children with disabilities access to better quality education.

In Sierra Leone, you’re helping to give visually impaired children like Abdul the chance to gain an education.

Last year we revisited our Education for All project in the Bombali district, Sierra Leone, and met 13-year-old Abdul.

Abdul is one of many children who has benefited from a Sightsavers project that aims to give all children with disabilities access to better quality education.

Sadly, in Sierra Leone and many other countries, children with disabilities can often be considered not worth educating. Even if families do decide to send their visually impaired children to school, teachers can lack the skills and resources to accommodate the children’s needs.

Children who miss out on a quality education can then become trapped in a cycle of poverty and dependence. Accessing housing, medical facilities and even food are all huge challenges for a person with disabilities who has not been to school or learned a particular skill.

Thanks to your fantastic support, Sightsavers is training teachers in 45 mainstream schools in Sierra Leone. They are receiving training on how to assist and include children with visual impairments and other disabilities and allow them to reach their full potential.

Kadie Moore, head teacher at Abdul’s school in Bombali, Sierra Leone, is one of 89 head and deputy head teachers trained in inclusive and special needs education. Kadie is now better equipped with a range of skills to help identify and address her students’ needs and has implemented seemingly small changes in her school that can make a huge difference for a child with disabilities.

“We learned that if a student has a problem with their eyes, if you seat them at the back they will not see,” explains Kadie. “When you place them at the front of the classroom before the blackboard, they will be able to see properly.”

To promote a positive message about including children with disabilities in education, parents and students are also being appointed as ‘disability champions’.

Abdul is a prime example of a disability champion in his school. Born with cataracts, Abdul could easily have missed out on an education. As part of the project, Abdul received Sightsavers-supported surgery and had his sight restored.

Dressed in his smart uniform, Abdul told us how he loves going to school and that his favourite subject is maths. He also enjoys PE and particularly enjoys playing football, something he could not do before.

Sightsavers has joined campaign groups in Pakistan to welcome a new law that will make it illegal to discriminate or exclude people on the basis of disability.

The Disability Rights Act, approved on 10 January, will provide a comprehensive legal framework to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities in Pakistan.

This ground-breaking legislation comes after more than 5,200 Pakistanis signed a petition that was handed to parliament in December last year. The petition was part of the Equal World campaign, launched in Pakistan by Sightsavers, the National Forum of Women with Disabilities and the Community Based Inclusion Development Network (CBIDN).

“The introduction of this law represents a historic step for our country and we thank the government for making this happen,” said Sightsavers’ Pakistan country director Munazza Gilliani. “Every day, thousands of people are excluded from public life simply because they have a disability. This new law will allow us to challenge incidents involving this kind of discrimination through the legal system. It gives individuals legal recourse in all areas of life including education, employment and healthcare.”

Asim Zafar, secretariat coordinator of the CBIDN, said: “We thank the government for taking action on this issue and look forward to working with them to ensure its fullest realisation.”

Sightsavers has joined campaign groups in Pakistan to welcome a new law that will make it illegal to discriminate or exclude people on the basis of disability.

The Disability Rights Act, approved on 10 January, will provide a comprehensive legal framework to protect and promote the rights of people with disabilities in Pakistan.

This ground-breaking legislation comes after more than 5,200 Pakistanis signed a petition that was handed to parliament in December last year. The petition was part of the Equal World campaign, launched in Pakistan by Sightsavers, the National Forum of Women with Disabilities and the Community Based Inclusion Development Network (CBIDN).

“The introduction of this law represents a historic step for our country and we thank the government for making this happen,” said Sightsavers’ Pakistan country director Munazza Gilliani. “Every day, thousands of people are excluded from public life simply because they have a disability. This new law will allow us to challenge incidents involving this kind of discrimination through the legal system. It gives individuals legal recourse in all areas of life including education, employment and healthcare.”

Asim Zafar, secretariat coordinator of the CBIDN, said: “We thank the government for taking action on this issue and look forward to working with them to ensure its fullest realisation.”

In February 2019, Sightsavers Ireland launched its Put Us in the Picture disability rights campaign.

It called on the Irish government to prioritise people with disabilities in its global development policy, A Better World, as well as calling on leaders to use Ireland’s influence as a member state of the United Nations to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.

In June, we launched our campaign petition to the Irish government as a national-level call under our global petition to the UN. We also had national calls in 13 other countries, pushing for progress on the passing and implementation of disability legislation. We collected signatures online and at festivals and events such as Electric Picnic, but also wanted to make sure people in developing countries who might not have access to the internet could take part. To achieve this, Sightsavers’ technical team developed an innovative app that allowed campaigners to gather signatures using mobile devices. This made a huge difference in reaching people who would ordinarily be excluded from participating in this type of campaigning.

Campaigning in Ireland successfully led to a commitment from the tánaiste to make Ireland’s A Better World development policy disability-inclusive. The petition, which was signed by 5,000 people, was handed in to Maureen O’Sullivan TD on behalf of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence. Sightsavers Ireland also helped to secure Statements in Seanad Éireann to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), during which our campaign was highlighted by Senator Lynn Ruane.

On the same day in New York at the UN headquarters, the global petition with 50,455 signatures was handed in to UN under-secretary-general Ana Maria Menéndez.

Here’s a roundup of other activity around the world, and some of the impact it’s had so far.

In February 2019, Sightsavers Ireland launched its Put Us in the Picture disability rights campaign.

It called on the Irish government to prioritise people with disabilities in its global development policy, A Better World, as well as calling on leaders to use Ireland’s influence as a member state of the United Nations to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.

In June, we launched our campaign petition to the Irish government as a national-level call under our global petition to the UN. We also had national calls in 13 other countries, pushing for progress on the passing and implementation of disability legislation. We collected signatures online and at festivals and events such as Electric Picnic, but also wanted to make sure people in developing countries who might not have access to the internet could take part. To achieve this, Sightsavers’ technical team developed an innovative app that allowed campaigners to gather signatures using mobile devices. This made a huge difference in reaching people who would ordinarily be excluded from participating in this type of campaigning.

Campaigning in Ireland successfully led to a commitment from the tánaiste to make Ireland’s A Better World development policy disability-inclusive. The petition, which was signed by 5,000 people, was handed in to Maureen O’Sullivan TD on behalf of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence. Sightsavers Ireland also helped to secure Statements in Seanad Éireann to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), during which our campaign was highlighted by Senator Lynn Ruane.

On the same day in New York at the UN headquarters, the global petition with 50,455 signatures was handed in to UN under-secretary-general Ana Maria Menéndez.

Here’s a roundup of other activity around the world, and some of the impact it’s had so far.

In 2018, the government of Guinea agreed a decree to protect people with disabilities, but progress on putting it into action has been slow, and many people with disabilities in the country have yet to see it make a difference in their lives. We called on the government to implement the law on the protection of people with disabilities, and 4,233 people signed the petition. Campaigners in Guinea also took part in a global day of action for equality.

More about the Guinea campaign

In Uganda, nearly 7,000 people signed a national petition for the government to implement disability planning guidelines. The minister of state for gender and culture,  Peace Mutuuzo, promised to set up a meeting between the country’s president and national disability groups. She also committed to follow up the rollout of the implementation of the planning guidelines.

More about the Uganda campaign

In Nigeria, 3,595 people signed a national petition for implementation of the national disability bill. After receiving the petition at the hand-in event, the minister for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development (the coordinating ministry on disability) made a public commitment to set up a national disability commission in the next six months.

More about the Nigeria campaign

In Pakistan, we campaigned for the national disability bill to be approved. During his speech at the hand-in event, the honourable speaker made a series of commitments, including: making the country’s parliament house fully accessible by the end of 2020, reviewing the 2% employment quote for people with disabilities, making the national assembly website accessible, translating the constitution into braille and setting up a group to review disability legislation.

More about the Pakistan campaign

In Malawi, Sightsavers called for disability rights to be upheld through implementation of the country’s 2018 national action plan. We worked with APAM, the association of people with albinism in Malawi, and our petition – which gained 3,196 signatures – was handed in to the minister for gender, children, disability and social welfare. The minister acknowledged receipt of the petition and ensured the request would be presented to the president, and that it would be implemented.

More about the Malawi campaign

In Bangladesh, we called on the government to put its national disability action plan into effect. The plan highlights the key strategic priorities to be undertaken, and its timely and effective implementation has the potential to transform society and have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

There was considerable coverage of the campaign in national news outlets across the country. More than 2,600 people signed the petition.

More about the Bangladesh campaign

We campaigned for the government to ratify the African Disability Protocol in Ghana. This is essential to address disability discrimination and inequality across the country, and to ensure employment policies promote equal and accessible opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the African continent. In Ghana, 2,718 people signed the petition.

More about the Ghana campaign

In India, we called for all public places to be made fully accessible by 2025. The petition was signed by 3,114 people.

More about the India campaign

Our petition, calling on the Senegalese government to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, was signed by 3,788 people. If the government ratifies the treaty, which aims to make reading material more widely available in accessible formats including braille, audio and large print, it will have a huge impact in the lives of people with disabilities and bring an end to the ‘book famine’ experienced by people with print disabilities living in Senegal.

More about the Senegal campaign

In Sierra Leone, we called on the government to approve and implement the National Inclusive Education Policy to ensure meaningful participation and equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their needs. Almost 2,000 people signed the petition.

More about the Sierra Leone campaign

In Cameroon, we campaigned for the government to fully implement the national law on the protection and promotion of persons with disabilities and its decree.

More about the Cameroon campaign

In March 2019, following five years of successful disability rights campaigning in the UK, Sightsavers launched its Equal World campaign.

This global campaign calls for the UN and its member states to ensure the rights of all people with disabilities are upheld.

In June, we launched our Equal World petition. Alongside its global call, it had national-level calls in 14 countries, pushing for progress on the passing and implementation of disability legislation. We collected signatures online, but also wanted to make sure people who might not have access to the internet could take part. To achieve this, Sightsavers’ technical team developed an innovative app that allowed campaigners to gather signatures using mobile devices, which could then be transmitted to our head office once the collector was back online. This made a huge difference in reaching people who would ordinarily be excluded from participating in this type of campaigning.

The global petition gained more than 50,000 signatures, and in December it was handed in to UN under-secretary-general Ana Maria Menéndez.

We campaigned for disability rights in 14 countries around the world. Here’s a roundup of the activity around the world, and some of the impact it’s had so far.

In March 2019, following five years of successful disability rights campaigning in the UK, Sightsavers launched its Equal World campaign.

This global campaign calls for the UN and its member states to ensure the rights of all people with disabilities are upheld.

In June, we launched our Equal World petition. Alongside its global call, it had national-level calls in 14 countries, pushing for progress on the passing and implementation of disability legislation. We collected signatures online, but also wanted to make sure people who might not have access to the internet could take part. To achieve this, Sightsavers’ technical team developed an innovative app that allowed campaigners to gather signatures using mobile devices, which could then be transmitted to our head office once the collector was back online. This made a huge difference in reaching people who would ordinarily be excluded from participating in this type of campaigning.

The global petition gained more than 50,000 signatures, and in December it was handed in to UN under-secretary-general Ana Maria Menéndez.

We campaigned for disability rights in 14 countries around the world. Here’s a roundup of the activity around the world, and some of the impact it’s had so far.

In 2018, the government of Guinea agreed a decree to protect people with disabilities, but progress on putting it into action has been slow, and many people with disabilities in the country have yet to see it make a difference in their lives. We called on the government to implement the law on the protection of people with disabilities, and 4,233 people signed the petition. Campaigners in Guinea also took part in a global day of action for equality.

More about the Guinea campaign

In Uganda, nearly 7,000 people signed a national petition for the government to implement disability planning guidelines. The minister of state for gender and culture, Peace Mutuuzo, promised to set up a meeting between the country’s president and national disability groups. She also committed to follow up the roll-out of the implementation of the planning guidelines.

More about the Uganda campaign

In Nigeria, 3,595 people signed a national petition for implementation of the national disability bill. After receiving the petition at the hand-in event, the minister for humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development (the coordinating ministry on disability) made a public commitment to set up a national disability commission in the next six months.

More about the Nigeria campaign

In Pakistan, we campaigned for the national disability bill to be approved. During his speech at the hand-in event, the honourable speaker made a series of commitments, including: making the country’s parliament house fully accessible by the end of 2020, reviewing the 2% employment quote for people with disabilities, making the national assembly website accessible, translating the constitution into braille and setting up a group to review disability legislation.

More about the Pakistan campaign

In Malawi, Sightsavers called for disability rights to be upheld through implementation of the country’s 2018 national action plan. We worked with APAM, the association of people with albinism in Malawi, and our petition – which gained 3,196 signatures – was handed in to the minister for gender, children, disability and social welfare. The minister acknowledged receipt of the petition and ensured the request would be presented to the president, and that it would be implemented.

More about the Malawi campaign

In Bangladesh, we called on the government to put its national disability action plan into effect. The plan highlights the key strategic priorities to be undertaken, and its timely and effective implementation has the potential to transform society and have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

There was considerable coverage of the campaign in national news outlets across the country. More than 2,600 people signed the petition.

More about the Bangladesh campaign

We campaigned for the government to ratify the African Disability Protocol in Ghana. This is essential to address disability discrimination and inequality across the country, and to ensure employment policies promote equal and accessible opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the African continent. In Ghana, 2,718 people signed the petition.

More about the Ghana campaign

In Ireland, we called on the Irish government to prioritise people with disabilities in its global development policy. Campaigning in the country successfully led to a commitment from the tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs and trade, Simon Coveney, to make Ireland’s A Better World development policy disability-inclusive. Five thousand people signed the petition, and it was handed in to Maureen O’Sullivan TD on behalf of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence. Sightsavers Ireland also helped to secure Statements in the Seanad Éireann (the senate of the Irish parliament) to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, during which our campaign was highlighted.

In India, we called for all public places to be made fully accessible by 2025. The petition was signed by 3,114 people.

More about the India campaign

Our petition, calling on the Senegalese government to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, was signed by 3,788 people. If the government ratifies the treaty, which aims to make reading material more widely available in accessible formats including braille, audio and large print, it will have a huge impact in the lives of people with disabilities and bring an end to the ‘book famine’ experienced by people with print disabilities living in Senegal.

More about the Senegal campaign

In Sierra Leone, we called on the government to approve and implement the National Inclusive Education Policy to ensure meaningful participation and equal opportunities for all children, regardless of their needs. Almost 2,000 people signed the petition.

More about the Sierra Leone campaign

Sightsavers has handed in its Equal World disability rights petition, signed by 50,455 people, to a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General’s office in New York.

The petition is part of Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign, which fights for an end to disability discrimination and inequality.

The petition consists of a global call for the UN and its member states to uphold the rights of people with disabilities, as well as national-level calls in 14 countries for action on disability legislation and policies (the national petitions are being handed in to the relevant governments).

As well as the online petition form, an innovative app was used to collect offline signatures by campaigners working in the field. People in remote areas could sign with their finger on a mobile device, and the signature collectors could then upload the information when they returned to an area with an internet connection.

The global petition was received by Ana Maria Menéndez, who is Under-Secretary-General and the UN Secretary-General’s senior adviser on policy. It was handed in by Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Sightsavers’ advocacy adviser for social inclusion and member of the committee that monitors the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with Juliet Milgate, Head of Policy, and Natasha Kennedy, Head of Multilaterals and Campaigns.

Speaking after the hand-in event, Natasha Kennedy said: “We were very proud to hand in our global petition to the UN today, while around the world our colleagues have been handing in their national petitions to their leaders. We’ve seen amazing support from all our campaigning countries, showing that people worldwide support our call for the rights of people with disabilities to be upheld. We’ll keep fighting for disability rights and for an end to discrimination – this is essential if the Global Goals set by the UN in 2015 are ever to be achieved.”

More about the Equal World campaign

Sightsavers has handed in its Equal World disability rights petition, signed by 50,455 people, to a representative of the United Nations Secretary-General’s office in New York.

The petition is part of Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign, which fights for an end to disability discrimination and inequality.

The petition consists of a global call for the UN and its member states to uphold the rights of people with disabilities, as well as national-level calls in 14 countries for action on disability legislation and policies (the national petitions are being handed in to the relevant governments).

As well as the online petition form, an innovative app was used to collect offline signatures by campaigners working in the field. People in remote areas could sign with their finger on a mobile device, and the signature collectors could then upload the information when they returned to an area with an internet connection.

The global petition was received by Ana Maria Menéndez, who is Under-Secretary-General and the UN Secretary-General’s senior adviser on policy. It was handed in by Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Sightsavers’ advocacy adviser for social inclusion and member of the committee that monitors the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, along with Juliet Milgate, Head of Policy, and Natasha Kennedy, Head of Multilaterals and Campaigns.

Speaking after the hand-in event, Natasha Kennedy said: “We were very proud to hand in our global petition to the UN today, while around the world our colleagues have been handing in their national petitions to their leaders. We’ve seen amazing support from all our campaigning countries, showing that people worldwide support our call for the rights of people with disabilities to be upheld. We’ll keep fighting for disability rights and for an end to discrimination – this is essential if the Global Goals set by the UN in 2015 are ever to be achieved.”

More about the Equal World campaign