Abia Akram

Abia Akram, a prominent disability rights advocate with a personal experience of physical disability, has been an active member of the Disability Movement since 1997. Her long-standing dedication to the cause has earned her global recognition, including being named one of BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women of 2021.

Abia serves as a trustee for Sightsavers, UK Board, and is a Disability Advisory Board Member for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). In Pakistan, she has served as a Member of the Council on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and as Gender Advisor to the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW). Her work across governments, NGOs, nonprofits, and the corporate sector has significantly influenced human rights legislation and policies benefiting persons with disabilities, especially women.

One of her notable achievements is her instrumental role in the development of Pakistan’s first-ever legislation to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The Disability Rights Act 2020, which she helped to implement, includes innovative provisions for disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction, education, livelihoods, and political participation. This groundbreaking work has been recognized globally and is seen as a model for other nations.

Abia’s contributions to disability rights have been acknowledged by numerous prestigious awards, including the Human Rights Presidential Award, the WIN DRR Award, the UK Alumni Award from the British Council, and the Khadija Tul Kubra Distinguished Award from the Women Parliamentary Caucus. She was also named one of the Chevening 35 Global Changemakers.

Known as one of the most active women with disabilities leaders globally, Abia has been a tireless advocate for the rights of women with disabilities. She has lobbied with parliamentarians and networks, built capacity, and helped extend the international reach of the women with disabilities movement. Her commitment to gender equality has led her to focus on the capacity building of organizations of persons with disabilities, particularly in areas such as sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, and response.

Abia’s work in at least 20 countries has focused on building the capacity of women and youth-led organizations, particularly in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence. Her analysis of Pakistan's gender-based violence response systems has become a key resource for developing policies and programs that respect bodily autonomy and informed consent. Through the "We Decide" Program, Abia has been at the forefront of ensuring that sexual and reproductive health services are gender-responsive and rights-based.

Abia has been instrumental in establishing several significant initiatives, including the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP) in 1997, the National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) in 2009, the Age Disability and Diversity Task Force (ADDTF) in 2010, the Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities Network (APWWDU) in 2015, and the Global Forum on the Leadership of Women with Disabilities (GFLWWD) in 2020. She is also an Executive Board Member of the Commonwealth Disability Forum and a Board Member of the Asia Pacific Women Law & Development (APWLD).

Her work has taken her to over 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Germany, Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, Bangladesh, and many others. She has been invited as a thought leader on disability by UN agencies and has served on organizing committees for numerous international conferences.

Abia’s educational background includes a post-graduate degree in Gender and International Development from the University of Warwick, UK, which she completed as a recipient of the British Council’s Chevening Scholarship. Her academic journey has equipped her with the practical strategies to advance the leadership role of women with disabilities and implement policies that empower them.

Through her tireless advocacy, Abia Akram has become a global leader in the fight for disability rights, with a particular focus on advancing the rights of women with disabilities. Her work continues to inspire change worldwide and ensures that the voices of persons with disabilities are heard at the highest levels of government and international