In a critical move to protect global disability rights and ensure the success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a new 100-day campaign has been launched. The campaign aims to garner action from world leaders before the high-level UN summit on the SDGs in September.
The SDGs, consisting of 17 ambitious goals designed to reduce poverty and inequality by 2030, were adopted by the UN and governments worldwide in 2015.
The upcoming SDG Summit, to be held in New York, marks the midpoint of the SDGs' implementation. Member states will gather to evaluate progress, make fresh commitments, and negotiate a political declaration.
However, Sightsavers' “Equal World” campaign highlights the urgent need to focus on marginalised groups, particularly people with disabilities, to ensure progress on these global goals.
According to a recent UN report, the achievement of the SDGs is at risk unless immediate action is taken to address the needs of the groups most often left behind.
The report warns that many SDGs are off track, with only about 12% of approximately 140 targets on the course assessed preliminarily. This alarming assessment emphasises the necessity of prioritising the inclusion and support of marginalised populations.
Amrita Rejina Rozario, the country director of Sightsavers Bangladesh, expressed concern over the lack of progress on poverty and inequality. People with disabilities are disproportionately affected, with up to twice as many living below the poverty line as those without disabilities.
As the halfway point of the 2030 deadline approaches, Rozario stressed that progress on the SDGs has derailed and the promise of leaving no one behind is in peril.
Sightsavers' campaign calls on all world leaders to accelerate SDG action and ensure inclusivity for people with disabilities.
In Bangladesh, Sightsavers and organisations representing people with disabilities also emphasise the need to implement the SDGs effectively. They stress the critical importance of prioritising and safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities in national strategies and policies.
Ayon Debnath, the campaign lead at Sightsavers, emphasised the necessity of immediate action to ensure sustainable change and achieve the SDGs. With just 100 days remaining until the SDG Summit, Debnath urged global decision-makers to address the needs of the 16% of the worldwide population living with disabilities, stating that it is essential to rescue the SDGs and truly leave no one behind.
The 2023 SDG Summit, scheduled for 18-19 September 2023, will convene heads of state and government during the United Nations General Assembly high-level week.
Through its “Equal World” campaign, Sightsavers is urging UN member states to prioritise reaching the most marginalised groups, including people with disabilities, in the political declaration and national commitments made at the SDG Summit. The campaign aims to ensure that the SDGs stay on track and that no one is left behind in pursuing a sustainable and equitable world.
