A trio of Paralympic athletes from Malawi, Uganda, and the United Kingdom are spearheading a campaign to ensure that the voices of youth with disabilities are prominently heard at the United Nations’ upcoming Summit of the Future in September, set to take place in New York. The campaign, which has garnered support from the international charity Sightsavers, is focused on advocating for the inclusion of disabled youth in discussions concerning the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The athletes leading this initiative include Taonere Banda from Malawi, Husnah Kukundakwe from Uganda, and Susie Rodgers from the United Kingdom. Banda, who has made a significant impact by breaking a record in 2016 as the first athlete to represent Malawi at the Paralympic Games, competes in the 400 meters and 1,500 meters. Kukundakwe, a Paralympic swimmer, and Rodgers, a former Paralympic swimmer who competed in London 2012 and Rio 2016, are also prominent figures in the campaign. All three are advocating for greater recognition and inclusion of disabled youth at international forums.
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Sightsavers has highlighted these athletes as key spokespeople for its Equal World campaign, which aims to bring the voices of disabled youth into the conversation at the September summit. The organization stresses the importance of integrating these perspectives into global discussions on sustainable development. Banda, who is currently training for the Paris Paralympics, expressed hope that the campaign will challenge the persistent stigma and discrimination faced by people with disabilities.
Banda emphasized the need for equitable treatment, stating, “We are also human beings and we want to be treated equally. It’s sad that we are often being discriminated against. For example, we are often sidelined in various developmental programs, including during the distribution of some relief items.” She fears that without such advocacy, people with disabilities might once again be overlooked, undermining the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Simon Munde, Executive Director for the Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi, endorsed the campaign, underscoring its importance. He stated, “It’s important that these para-athletes carry the voices of fellow young people with disabilities to the world leaders so that these world leaders, even our leaders from Africa, really champion the issues of inclusion of persons with disabilities.” Munde criticized the lack of inclusion in development initiatives and called for a fair allocation of resources. The recent high-level consultation in Malawi, supported by the U.N., sought to address such issues and prepare for the upcoming summit.
- Tags: Paralympics, SDGs, UN
