Join our campaign

Join the fight for disability rights!

Around the world, there are one billion people with disabilities. Of these one billion people, 800 million live in low and middle income countries, and more than half are women. In many countries, people with disabilities face stigma and discrimination on a daily basis and are denied basic human rights. And right now these rights are more under threat than ever – but you can take action to change this.

Take action for an #EqualUN

Right now we’re calling for the United Nations disability committee to have more women, more people with different types of disability and more people from lower income countries. In December 2020 nine members will be elected to the committee  – you can help make sure diversity and gender equality are achieved! Find out more and join the call for an #EqualUN

Watch the video below to find out why we fight for disability rights (or see the text alternative).

COVID-19 and disability

People with disabilities are being disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: facing discrimination, a lack of accessible information and being deprioritised in receiving health care. This is on top of the existing inequality and barriers to participation that many people with disabilities experience on a daily basis.

In May 2020 we launched a petition calling on the United Nations and its member countries to address this injustice. The petition gathered more than 25,000 signatures from all over the world! It was handed in to the UN and representatives from member countries on 17 July 2020.

Find out more about COVID-19 and disability rights

Fighting for a fairer world

Since 1950, Sightsavers has worked to empower people with visual impairments and other disabilities to access education, employment and health care, and play a full and active role in their communities.

Our Equal World campaign calls on the international community to make sure that global development is inclusive of people with disabilities at every level of decision-making, and in every area of life. We take a rights-based approach in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which states that people with disabilities must have their human rights upheld, and be able to claim these rights without discrimination.

By taking action – signing petitions, contacting your political representatives or sharing stories on social media – you’ll be using your voice to help us reach the widest possible audience and keep the issue of disability rights on the global agenda.

Together, we can create a fairer world.