Hope for the Global Disability Summit in London

A World Disability Summit was held in London on July 24th. 36 agencies – including CAFOD – wrote a letter to the Guardian explaining hopes and dreams for the summit.

Text of the letter:

Tuesday is full of opportunities and promises, as world leaders descend on London. Disability Summit. We, some of the UK's leading international development organizations, call on policy makers to make lasting commitments to people with disabilities around the world.

By ignorance, indifference or intent, the disabled, of whom 80% live in the world. the poorest countries in the world, continue to be excluded from society. They face multiple forms of discrimination and are denied equal rights to many basic aspects of life, including access to quality education, earning a living, having a family and even make independent decisions about their own lives. The inclusion of people with disabilities must be at the heart of all aid, development and humanitarian efforts if we are to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. People with disabilities must not just being heard, but being at the forefront of making decisions about their lives and the issues that affect them. Assistive technology must also be exploited to enable people with disabilities to live healthy, productive and independent lives.

Without good quality, consistent disability data that responds to people's rights and needs is a challenge and may be left behind. For every person to count, people of all ages must be counted. By hosting Tuesday's summit, the United Kingdom has shown leadership in this crucial area and we call on those present to make measurable, ambitious and sustainable commitments. It's Time to End Discrimination and Ensure Equal Rights for the Billion People with Disabilities Across the World

Alex Daniels Director General, Action Against Poverty
Jimmy Innes CEO, Add International
Andrew Betts Director, Advantage Africa
Chris Roles General Manager, Age International
Judith Brodie Acting Managing Director, Bond [19659007] Lewis Temple Director General, Brac United Kingdom
Michael Adamson Director General, British Red Cross
Chris Bain Director CAFOD
Sean Callahan Director General, Catholic Relief Services
Kirsty Smith CEO, CBMUK
Anna-May Andrews CEO, Chance for Childhood with Street Child Africa
Jill Healey CEO, ChildHope UK [19659007] Joanna Clark Director, Deaf Child Worldwide
Steve Crump CEO, DeafKidz International
Tim Li vesey CEO, Embrace the Middle East
Amy Agnew European Director , Citizen of the World
Mark Waddington CEO, Hope and Homes for Children
Cat Jones Chief, Hub Cymru Africa
Aleema Shivji Director, Humanity and Inclusion United Kingdom [19659007] Professor Melissa Leach Director, IDS
Naser Haghamed General Manager, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Neil Heslop General Manager, Leonard Cheshire
Geoff Prescott General Manager, Lepra [19659007] Vinny Smith General Director, Meningitis Research Foundation
Simon O. Connell Executive Director, Mercy Corps Europe
Amanda Wilkinson ] CEO, Motivation
Alex Thier [1 9459011] Executive Director, ODI
Rebecca Cronin CEO, Orbis UK
Aaron Oxley Executive Director, UK Results
Alison Marshall Director, Sense International
Caroline Harper ] CEO, Sightsavers [19659007] Martin James President, Signal
Kavita Prasad CEO, Sound Seekers
Peter Waddup National Director, The Mission Leprosy England and Wales
Michele Turner Executive Director, Word Learning Europe
Tim Pilkington CEO, World Vision