Region: Global
June 2025
At the 18th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18), ICEVI President Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, whose participation was supported by her professional role with Sightsavers—an International Partner Member of ICEVI—addressed governments with a powerful message: inclusive education is not a discretionary cost but a critical investment in human rights and equity. Her remarks aligned with broader calls from the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and civil society leaders.v
Impact: ICEVI’s presence helped raise visibility of learners with visual impairments and reinforced advocacy efforts to position inclusive education as a budgetary and policy priority for national governments and donors. Ms. Oforiwa Fefoame’s address underscored ICEVI’s commitment to ensuring learners with visual impairment are represented in global policy conversations. Insights from COSP18 will inform ICEVI’s ongoing work to influence national education systems and funding decisions.