We already talked on our blog about who we are, what we stand for, and the importance of getting involved in social causes around the world.

Today, we would like to take this one step further and talk about one of our favorite campaigns, initiated by our partner charity, Sightsavers. The aim of this blog post is to be a call to action for our followers. We hope many of you will get involved and work together for a better world, a world where no one is left behind.

The goal of the Equal World campaign is to put an end to disability discrimination.

In order for all of us to better understand the challenge, let’s have a closer look at the numbers. Around the world, there are one billion people with disabilities, and many are denied access to the basic rights they are entitled to and require in order to build a better life for themselves.

The right to education, health care, employment, or even political participation is limited for many people with disabilities, making it almost impossible for them to take advantage of their strengths, gain knowledge and skills, and be part of a healthy and inclusive society.

Another thing to keep in mind here is that out of the one billion people with disabilities around the world, 800 million live in low and middle-income countries, where they may face multiple other challenges in their day-to-day life. It is hard for us to imagine a world where anyone could be constantly denied their basic human rights or face stigma and discrimination on a daily basis, but unfortunately, it still exists in our world. We are just not aware of it sometimes, as we get caught up in our busy lives, where we have our own challenges to face and loved ones to take care of.

COVID-19 and disability

This pandemic is affecting the entire world and is considered the most challenging crisis since World War ll according to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

SOURCE – https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/idOVC7O123J

But COVID-19 has another sinister side.

People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. As we mentioned above, many were already facing multiple challenges in their day-to-day lives prior to the pandemic, and now, on top of that, they are facing more discrimination, a lack of access to accurate information, and are not seen as a priority in receiving health care.

Find out more about COVID-19 and disability rights by following this link.

What is Sightsavers calling for?

1. The rights of people with disabilities to be upheld
2. Governments and organizations to show leadership on disability inclusion
3. People with disabilities to have a voice in the decisions that are affecting their
lives
4. The UN and world leaders to be held accountable for putting inclusive policies
into action

How can we get involved?

Believe it or not, it is easier to get involved than we might think. It does not require a lot of effort and we can make a difference for a better world today, a world where no one is left behind.

Support the Equal World campaign:

Join thousands of Equal World campaigners by signing up for campaign emails to receive the latest asks and updates on how you can take action.

You can also join the growing community of campaigners on the Equal World Facebook Group.

Find out more about the Equal World campaign on the campaign website.

Support Sightsavers by playing Robbie the Robot or donating online!

You can support the work of Sightsavers by playing a mobile game like Robbie the Robot or
even give directly to Sightsavers online at https://donate.sightsavers.org/

Are you ready to change the world?

Use your voice and help Sightsavers reach as many people as possible. We fight together, for a better world.

SOURCES:

www.reuters.com
https://www.sightsavers.org/our-campaign/
www.sightsavers.org/equalworld