A group of Paralympic athletes from Malawi, Uganda, and the United Kingdom is calling for greater inclusion of disabled youth voices at the forthcoming United Nations Summit of the Future, scheduled for September in New York. Their initiative, backed by the global charity Sightsavers, underscores the need to integrate the perspectives of disabled young people into global discussions.
Taonere Banda, who competes in the 400 meters and 1,500 meters races, made history as the first athlete from Malawi to participate in the Paralympics in Brazil in 2016. Husnah Kukundakwe, an accomplished Paralympic swimmer from Uganda, and Susie Rodgers, a former Paralympic swimmer for the UK who competed in London 2012 and Rio 2016, are also involved in this advocacy.
Sightsavers has appointed these athletes as ambassadors for its Equal World campaign, which aims to ensure that the voices of disabled youth are represented in the dialogue about the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals at the upcoming summit.
Currently, Banda and Kukundakwe are preparing for the Paris Paralympics. Banda expresses hope that their efforts will challenge and reduce the stigma and discrimination faced by individuals with disabilities.
“We are human beings who deserve equal treatment,” she asserted. “It’s disheartening to see that we are frequently sidelined, especially in developmental programs and relief distributions.”
She fears that without a strong campaign, people with disabilities might be overlooked once more, jeopardizing the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Banda emphasized that the summit should feature programs that address the needs of people with disabilities.
Simon Munde, Executive Director of the Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi, praised the initiative. He highlighted the importance of having these athletes represent the concerns of disabled youth to global leaders, including those from Africa, to promote inclusion.
Munde argued that it is crucial for people with disabilities to receive their fair share of development opportunities. “Public and development funds should be used for national progress, yet often such initiatives exclude individuals with disabilities,” he said.
Recently, the Malawian government, with support from the United Nations, held a significant meeting with various stakeholders, including government officials, civil society groups, the private sector, academia, and media, to prepare for the Summit of the Future. This meeting aimed to gather diverse perspectives to guide Malawi’s contributions to the summit in New York, focusing on addressing the needs of youth and future generations.