No Future Without Us

Persons with disabilities demand inclusive development goals

From 20 to 29 April 2015, Abia Akram of Pakistan (CEO - National Forum for Women with Disabilities), John Paredes from the Philippines and Kudakwashe Dube from South Africa (CEO of Africa Disability Alliance) met with parliamentarians in Germany, the EU as well as EU Member State Representatives. Their commitment to equal rights and opportunities of people with disabilities worldwide is what unites the three. They want to convince politicians in Berlin, Brussels and Strasbourg to work for inclusive development goals and to ensure full participation of persons with disabilities in the post -2015 agenda.

Women face double discrimination

Abia Akram also has a disability and is a wheelchair user. Since 1997 Abia has been advocating for equal opportunities and rights of women with disabilities. She says, "I fight for visibility of women with disabilities who face double discrimination in Pakistan - as a woman and as a person with a disability."

Blind people are often illiterate

John Paredes from the Philippines says that persons with disabilities face many challenges worldwide. "Blind people are often illiterate. The discrimination by public authorities is commonplace.” John is blind, and currently works at the Saint Louis University where he trains teachers about inclusive education, while continuing working on his doctoral thesis. 

Disproportionately poor

Kudakwashe Dube is also a wheelchair user and has been involved in development cooperation for people with disabilities for over 30 years, supervising programs in more than 20 countries. He is convinced that "Without the inclusion of people with disabilities no development goal can be satisfactorily achieved." People with disabilities are disproportionately represented among the poorest. "That's why it's important," explains Kudakwashe, "that their needs be made explicit in the post-2015 agenda."