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.
Our Equal World campaign fights for the rights of people with disabilities.
About the campaignThe Promise in Peril campaign culminated at the SDG summit with a declaration reaffirming commitments to achieving the global goals that explicitly references disability rights.
Dr Jalikatu Mustapha trained with Sightsavers between 2012 and 2016, becoming the only female ophthalmologist in the country.
Sightsavers’ education, research and policy teams will join the global education community at the UKFIET international education conference on 12-14 September in Oxford, UK.