Equal World campaign hands COVID-19 disability petition to Irish leaders and UN

More than 4,000 people have signed Sightsavers’ Equal World petition calling on the Irish government to use its influence as a member state of the United Nations to ensure disability rights are upheld during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

These 4,000 signatures targeting Ireland’s leaders were also part of a wider call to the UN and its member countries to address the issue of disability rights being undermined during the health crisis, which gathered a total of 25,276 signatures.  

The petition hand-in was conducted via a letter sent to the UN Secretary-General’s office and the Irish government, with copies being sent to the permanent missions of UN member countries who have signed or ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was accompanied by a video featuring Sightsavers’ staff from around the world, including Sightsavers Ireland’s interim CEO Ciara Smullen, calling on the UN and member countries to take urgent action to uphold the rights of people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The petition, which launched in May, gathered signatures from around the world. It was created in response to the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on people with disabilities worldwide.  

In many countries, information about health advice and public restrictions has not been made available in accessible formats like braille or sign language, and many people with disabilities have faced challenges in accessing their required levels of personal care because of social distancing and lockdown measures. Others have been unable to access food supplies, health services and home-based education support, undermining their human rights.  

Alison Bough, Sightsavers’ public engagement and communications manager, said: “It has been inspiring to see thousands of Irish campaign supporters signing our call for the new government to use its influence on the world stage to uphold disability rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as calling on the UN and other member countries to ensure the global response to the pandemic is inclusive of people with disabilities and does not leave them behind. We’re proud to have handed the petition to Ireland’s representatives at the UN, alongside the global petition being handed to the UN Secretary-General’s office.” 

More about the campaign