Join our campaign

Around the world, there are one billion people with disabilities.

The vast majority – 800 million – live in low and middle income countries. More than half are women.

Many people with disabilities are denied access to their basic human rights – to education, health care, employment and political participation – because of stigma and discrimination.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put these rights under greater threat than ever. But you can take action to change this.

Watch the video below to find out more.

COVID-19 and disability

People with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They have experienced discrimination and a lack of accessible information, and have often not been treated as a priority in receiving health care. This is on top of the existing inequality and barriers to participation that many people with disabilities experience every day.

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.