ISLAMABAD: In order to demand equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities, Sightsavers has decided to launch ‘Equal World Campaign’ which calls for action to protect global disability rights ahead of a high-level UN Summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2023.

In the lead up to this event, a campaign will highlight that the progress on these global goals could be in peril unless attention was given to marginalised groups, including people with disabilities. The call follows a new UN report which shows that the SDGs will not be achieved without urgent action on global equality.

According to a statement, the SDGs are a set of 17 ambitious goals which aim to reduce poverty and inequality by 2030. The member states will gather at the SDG summit in New York to make new commitments and assess progress. The outcome of the summit will be a negotiated political declaration.

Sightsavers Country Director Munazza Gillani said: “As the world is coming to the halfway point of the 2030 deadline, progress on the SDGs has derailed – they are completely off-track. The promise to leave no-one behind is in peril. The government of Pakistan has taken some major initiatives to ensure the implementation of SDGs, which we welcome, however the disability inclusion in SDGs is yet to be achieved.”

She further said: “As the UN secretary general’s report shows that people with disabilities are being hit hardest by lack of progress on poverty and inequality. Globally, up to twice as many people with disabilities live under the poverty line than people without disabilities.

“We are calling on the government of Pakistan, and all world leaders, to speed up action on the SDGs and make sure they are inclusive of people with disabilities. Governments must ensure that the political declaration and all national commitments made at the SDG summit focus on reaching those who are being left furthest behind. This is our last chance to get the goals back on track.”

CEO of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities in Pakistan and Sightsavers’ global campaign ambassador Abia Akram said: “In order to bring about sustainable change, achieve the SDGs and create a more equal world, global decision-makers cannot continue to ignore the 16pc of the global population who have disabilities.”

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2023