From Collecting Data to Changing Lives

CBM Co-Hosts International Symposium

“CBM is co-sponsoring a two day symposium in London this week to promote collaboration and improve evidence around disability and international development, following the agreement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.

“We know that disability is very common and up to one in seven people globally have a disability”, explains Hannah Kuper, Co-director of the International Centre for Evidence in Disability, which is hosting the event.

The Sustainable Development Goals are disability inclusive and promise to leave no-one behind – but this promise will only be fulfilled if we put their ambition into action.

“We also know that people with disabilities are often excluded from many aspects of life, such as education, employment and health care, and that they are often poorer. It is therefore likely that without a specific focus on disability that we will not be able to achieve the SDGs. But – it is true that what isn’t counted doesn’t count. We therefore cannot advocate for specific attention needed for people with disabilities unless we can demonstrate that the different SDGs are not on track to being fulfilled for people with disabilities.”

Lars Bosselman, Director of CBM’s Department for International Advocacy and Alliances, emphasises that collecting data is vital to change lives: “The data revolution that has been called for internationally, is not just a scientific exercise. It is about reaching out to all people, designing well-targetted policies and, ultimately, about making the slogan leaving no one behind a reality for all, including persons with disabilities”.

Several CBM experts are running sessions at the Symposium:

• Diane Kingston from CBM’s department for International Advocacy and Alliances (IAA) will chair a session on ‘Disability and the SDGs’.
• Lars Bosselmann, IAA director will chair a session on ‘Inclusion measurement and promotion’.
• Dr. Babar Qureshi, CBM’s Director for Neglected Tropical Diseases will present the results of an inclusive eye health study conducted in Pakistan.
• Kathy Al Ju’beh, Senior Technical Advisor on Inclusive Development will speak on exploring critical fault lines for achieving equality for people with disabilities in the 2030 Agenda.
• CBM UK’s CEO, Kirsty Smith will chair a session on poverty.
• Joerg Weber, CBM Advisor on Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) will chair a session on CBR.
• Christiane Noe, CBM’s Research Manager will lead a discussion on planning, implementation and moving finds into practice. Petra Kiel, CBM’s Evaluation Manager, will present a poster on Monitoring on Inclusion.

The event is hosted by the International Centre for Evidence in Disability at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and co-sponsored by CBM, Sightsavers, Handicap International and the International Committee of the Red Cross.”