Sightsavers’ campaign petition for the Global Disability Summit hits 30,000 signatures

Sightsavers’ Actions Speak Louder petition, calling for governments and global organisations to attend the Global Disability Summit, closed today with 30,143 signatures from 111 countries.

The petition is part of Sightsavers’ Equal World campaign, which fights for an end to disability discrimination and inequality. It was launched 100 days before the start of the second Global Disability Summit, and has been handed in to government ministers in participating countries through Sightsavers’ country offices.

The summit, taking place on 16-17 February, is a virtual event hosted by the governments of Norway and Ghana alongside the International Disability Alliance. The first summit was held in the UK in 2018 and saw hundreds of commitments made to disability inclusion, but progress has been hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, while some commitments were too vague or not adequately financed.

Sightsavers’ head of campaigns, Tessa Murphy, said: “We’re hugely grateful to the thousands of people from all over the world who have signed the petition and supported our campaign. The Global Disability Summit could be a pivotal moment for the world to make progress on disability rights, and it’s vital that decision-makers not only attend, but also make ambitious, properly financed commitments to disability-inclusive global development.”