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Our campaign timeline

We’re fighting for disability rights to create a more equal world. Find out what we’ve been doing since our campaign launched in 2013.

2022

Two women stand next to each other, hugging and smiling.

June 2022

The continuing #EqualUN campaign run by Equal World, calling for UN treaty body committees to have fair and diverse representation, successfully helped maintain gender equality on the UN disability committee.

 

Multiple flags outside the UN building in New York

February 2022

Multiple flags outside the UN building in New York
The second Global Disability Summit was held, this time in Norway (hosted by the governments of Norway and Ghana with the International Disability Alliance). The Equal World campaign handed in its petition, launched in November 2021, that called on summit attendees to consult and engage with organisations of people with disabilities, and make ambitious, achievable commitments to disability inclusion.

2021

Athlete Taonere Banda crouches on the ground, ready to start a training run.

August 2021

During the Paralympic Games, we celebrated the achievements of Paralympians (like Taonere Banda, pictured) from around the world, and focused on the importance of inclusion not only in sport, but in all areas of life.

Pupils sit in a classroom at a sign language school in Uganda.

July 2021

Pupils sit in a classroom at a sign language school in Uganda.
Hosted by the UK and Kenya, the Global Education Summit brought world leaders together to make progress towards goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals (quality inclusive education for all children).
A girl with a visual impairment sits at a desk in a classroom with a pen in her hand.

May 2021

A girl with a visual impairment sits at a desk in a classroom with a pen in her hand.
We launched our open letter calling on G7 leaders to prioritise access to education for girls with disabilities and take action to meet the commitments of the Girls’ Education Declaration.
Two men sit at desks in a classroom while wearing face masks.

March 2021

We joined forces with the International Disability Alliance and International Disability and Development Consortium to call for people with disabilities to be included among priority groups for vaccination. Find out more about the IDA/IDDC campaign

The United Nations building in New York

December 2020

The United Nations building in New York
At the Conference of States Parties to the UN disability convention in New York, gender parity is finally achieved on the disability committee!
Four women, one of whom is holding a small child on her lap, sit together talking.

September 2020

There are just 10 years left to achieve the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals to tackle extreme poverty and climate change – but disability inclusion is critical for this to happen, so we need to keep it on the political agenda.

2020

A girl, who has albinism and is wearing glasses and a mask, sits in a classroom.

July 2020

A girl, who has albinism and is wearing glasses and a mask, sits in a classroom.
Our COVID-19 petition closed and we handed our petition in virtually to the UN and its member countries, accompanied by an open letter.
A woman from Pakistan wheeling herself out of a hospital in a wheelchair

May 2020

We launched our call for the UN and its member countries to make sure the global response to COVID-19 doesn’t leave people with disabilities behind.

2019

Five people involved in the campaign hold small placards after handing in a petition in New York

December 2019

Five people involved in the campaign hold small placards after handing in a petition in New York
Our petition to support disability rights, featuring more than 50,000 signatures, was handed to UN Under-Secretary-General Ana Maria Menendez in New York. The petition called for the UN and its member states to uphold the rights of people with disabilities around the world. Read the news story

Press play to watch our campaign video.

December 2019

We launched our new campaign film, starring disability activists and campaigners from around the world.

Stella stands tall with a strong look in her eyes, holding a ball

March 2019

Stella stands tall with a strong look in her eyes, holding a ball
We launched our Equal World campaign calling for global disability rights at the United Nations in New York.
A woman sits on a basic mobility scooter in Cameroon

February 2019

Our photo exhibition featuring people with disabilities in Cameroon launched our campaigning work in Ireland, with an aim of making sure Ireland’s global development policy is inclusive of people with disabilities.

2018

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

December 2018

A group of people, some with physical disabilities, wait to be seen by health care staff at a clinic.
Our first campaign call from 2013 is met when the UK government published its strategy outlining how it will ensure all its work is inclusive of people with disabilities.

Press play to watch our campaign video.

December 2018

The International Day of People with Disabilities 2018 marked the five-year anniversary of our campaign, and we celebrated everything you’ve helped achieve since 2013!

Six speakers sit on stage during a panel discussion at the Global Disability Summit 2018.

July 2018

Six speakers sit on stage during a panel discussion at the Global Disability Summit 2018.
The UK government co-hosted the first global disability summit in London: more than 170 commitments on inclusive development were made.
CRPD candidate Getty is speaking into a microphone at a conference

June 2018

Following our call for an #EqualUN, elections were held for nine available positions on the UN disability committee. Six women were elected, including Sightsavers’ Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame!

Multiple flags outside the UN building in New York

March 2018

Multiple flags outside the UN building in New York
We attended the Commission on the Status of Women in New York, to call for an #EqualUN with gender parity on the UN disability committee.

2017

Press play to watch our campaign video.

December 2017

We launched a campaign video featuring people with disabilities, who participated in our programmes, talking about the discrimination they’ve faced and the impact of inclusion.

A boy stands smiling, assisted by crutches while a group of children gather behind him.

December 2017

A boy stands smiling, assisted by crutches while a group of children gather behind him.
The UK Department for International Development announced that it would host a global disability summit in July 2018.

2016

Two women, one of whom is in a wheelchair, sit outside a hair salon.

December 2016

The Secretary of State announced that she will prioritise people with disabilities in the government’s international development work: a major win for the campaign.

A closeup of a girl's hands reading braille.

April 2016

A closeup of a girl's hands reading braille.
We grilled the UN Secretary-General candidates: campaigner Harriet from Uganda asked the candidates for UN Secretary-General how they would include people with disabilities if they were elected (see the response here).

2015

Four men sit together smiling with their arms around each other.

December 2015

The UK government published its second Disability Framework, identifying the progress it had made towards including people with disabilities in international development.

A girl smiles at the camera with four other children behind her.

September 2015

A girl smiles at the camera with four other children behind her.
World leaders agreed 17 global goals to end poverty and tackle climate change, and for the first time in development, people with disabilities were included!
Images of the Put us in the picture photo exhibition 2015

August 2015

Framing Perceptions, a photo exhibition about people with disabilities living in India, is displayed in London and later in New York. The exhibition featured photographs by award-winning Guardian photographer Graeme Robertson.

2014

An image of the door at 10 Downing Street

September 2014

An image of the door at 10 Downing Street
We took our petition to Number 10! Our 20,000-signature petition, calling on the UK government to make people with disabilities an international development priority, is delivered to parliament.
Two young women embrace each other while posing for a photo.

June 2014

The UK government published its first ever Disability Framework, setting the UK on an exciting, challenging and ambitious path towards disability inclusion in its work.

 

2013

A man and a woman cuddle a young baby on their laps.

December 2013

A man and a woman cuddle a young baby on their laps.
Our first disability campaign launched! The Put Us in the Picture campaign aimed to make sure people with disabilities aren’t left behind in the worldwide fight against poverty.
Campaigns

Equal World: Fighting for disability rights

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