“Commitments must lead to action”

Sightsavers campaign ambassador Abia Akram recently attended the Global Disability Summit in Berlin and took the message that young people with disabilities must be meaningfully included in decision-making.

“Attending the Global Disability Summit was incredibly exciting! Seeing so many disability leaders from around the world gathered in one place was powerful, but what stood out most were the commitments and pledges that governments were making. This summit was particularly important because many governments were following up on previous commitments and focusing on implementation. With the current global security situation and budget cuts, the question was: how sustainable are these commitments? This was something that I was eager to explore.

“I was especially excited to see the strong representation of young people with disabilities. Their engagement in the summit showed real progress – young people must have a seat at the table, and here, they did. Throughout the week, I was actively involved in several key events. I spoke on a panel alongside Prince Mired Bin Ra’ad Al-Hussein and engaged with government representatives from Germany, Jordan and Pakistan. The joint statement from Germany and Jordan was a significant moment and I was keen to see what commitments were included.

“I also participated in discussions on how to incorporate young people’s voices into policymaking, women’s leadership in disability rights and inclusive education. Another important event focused on the financial challenges facing organisations of persons with disabilities and how we can ensure long-term sustainability. These conversations are crucial because they bring decision-makers and advocates together to drive real change.

“These summits are incredibly important. They give us a rare opportunity to speak directly with government officials who are often difficult to access. Meeting face-to-face allows us to share perspectives, push for policy changes and ensure that our voices are heard.

“As the summit came to an end, my biggest takeaway was that commitments must lead to real action. Policies need proper funding, strong implementation and meaningful collaboration with organisations of persons with disabilities. As we say: nothing about us, without us.”