“I Was Born for the Battle, and I Live for the Fight,” said Sai Mohith Vissa, one of the top eight winners of the Global Ability Photography Challenge 2024. Sai Mohith Vissa is from Kakinada, a small town in Andhra Pradesh. Mohith had vision only in one eye since birth, while vision in his second eye deteriorated through the years. Since he was young, Mohith had a deep fascination with nature and wildlife, which nurtured his passion for photography. “I cannot express the immense satisfaction that I got when I first shot through the viewfinder of the camera. Recognition is important for everyone, disabled or otherwise, and I’m grateful for the opportunity the Global Ability Photography Challenge (GAPC) has given me,” shared Mohith.
The GAPC celebrated its third edition with a moving exhibition and awards ceremony held at UNESCO House. Organized by Youth4Jobs Foundation under its NotJustArt initiative, in partnership with UN India and UNESCO, the event highlighted the extraordinary talents of persons with disabilities, showcasing their unique perspectives and stories of resilience.
Key highlights of the event included the winners sharing the backstories of their photographs. Their journeys of overcoming immense challenges to capture a single image left the audience in awe.
Three participants - Deepanshi Sharma, Nithin Yadagiri, and Bujanga Prasada Sai Mohith Vissa - traveled to Delhi to receive their awards, accompanied by their families. For two of them, it marked their first-ever flight, and their joy was infectious. Their beaming faces reflected their pride and excitement.
This year’s edition saw participation from 320 entrants worldwide, with an esteemed jury selecting 20 finalists, among whom eight winners were awarded for their outstanding contributions. The GAPC underscores the global creative community's belief that persons with disabilities bring a unique perspective to their art.
people live with disability, majority in developing countries
Globally, one in six people experience significant disability—approximately 1.3 billion individuals, 80% of whom live in developing countries. Beyond health inequities, persons with disabilities are more likely to face stigma, discrimination in education and employment, lack of social protection, and poverty. Women with disabilities, for instance, are twice as likely to suffer physical violence (between 58% and 75%) than the average female population (35%). Youth with disabilities, numbering between 180 and 220 million worldwide, are among the most marginalized.
UNESCO’s mission is rooted in advancing inclusion, equity, and dignity. Through partnerships with governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector, we work to further the goals of disability inclusion—critical for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and upholding the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle. The key to building a fairer, more sustainable world is not to create a society in which everyone is the same – but rather one in which differences are celebrated. In our efforts to achieve this accessibility and inclusion are key
Inclusion is not an afterthought; it is a fundamental right
UNESCO remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting inclusion across all its sectors. The recently released State of the Education Report for India 2024: Rhythms of Learning is UNESCO's flagship contribution to India's education system. It highlights the role of culture and arts in education and is the first study to adapt UNESCO’s Framework for Culture and Arts Education to a national context. The Framework, adopted by 125 countries at the World Conference on Culture and Arts Education in Abu Dhabi in February 2024, focuses on integrating culture and arts education into policies, curricula, teacher training, and lifelong learning. A compelling story from the report is that of Arjuna Suvaraj, a class 12 student under the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Arjuna, an artist with hearing impairment, harnesses the power of painting as a profound medium of self-expression, demonstrating that creativity is an inherent right and a powerful tool for challenging barriers to communication and inclusion.
Guided by the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS), UN India partners with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to support the Government of India in implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in alignment with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
Further, UN India’s internal coordination mechanism on disability inclusion (Disability Working Group), plays a key role in mainstreaming disability inclusion across all pillars of UN programming and operations. The group fosters knowledge exchange, joint advocacy, and capacity-building efforts to strengthen disability-responsive governance, advance inclusive development, and enable the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.
Promoting accessibility and inclusion is about embracing the limitless potential of individuals. Since the last two years, I’ve met many kind-hearted people—siblings, caregivers, and strangers—doing good things out of kindness, and many persons with disabilities who are strong and resilient. “We are working on projects that provide life-changing opportunities for people with disabilities, whether through sports, performing arts, or creative pursuits. From photography to painting and even radio jockey courses, we are expanding the scope of possibilities. The scope is unlimited, and it brings peace of mind, joy to the world, and a sense of purpose to life.
Collective action is imperative to building a more equitable and inclusive future for all
Everybody is likely to experience disability at some point in their life, especially when getting older. UN India calls upon governments, civil society, and the private sector to accelerate commitments toward disability-inclusive policies, infrastructure, and opportunities.
Every individual has a role to play. Whether through advocating for inclusive policies, supporting disability rights organizations, or simply amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities, collective action is crucial to dismantling barriers and fostering an equitable future.
The Global Ability Photography Challenge reminds us that talent knows no barriers. By shifting lenses and perspectives, we not only see ability in disability but celebrate it in its truest form.
