Sightsavers campaigner Anuradha speaks at development conference

Disability advocate Anuradha Pareek, who featured in Sightsavers’ 2015 Framing Perceptions photo exhibition, is appearing as a key speaker this week at a conference on sustainable development in Bangkok, Thailand.

In her presentation to the Asia-Pacific Civil Society Forum on Sustainable Development 2017, Anuradha will speak about the challenges faced by people with disabilities living in India, particularly around accessing transport options and financial assistance. She will also share some of the work carried out by disabled people’s organisations in the area where she is currently a local government representative.

The empowerment of people with disabilities in developing countries is a key focus of Sightsavers’ Put Us in the Picture campaign, which calls for global development to be disability-inclusive. The participation of people with disabilities in the discussions that affect their lives is vital in making inclusive development a reality, and Anuradha’s appearance at the civil society forum is a prime example of this in action.

The conference, held in partnership with the UN Environment programme and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, brings together governments, civil society organisations, the private sector and other stakeholders to prepare for the annual high-level political forum on sustainable development, which takes place in July 2017.