Sharjah,:The World Congress 2025 “We Are Inclusion” in Sharjah highlighted how people with intellectual disabilities are taking the lead in reshaping societies and media through self-advocacy.
Speakers from the UAE, India, Zambia, Ghana, Egypt, and Japan shared inspiring stories of change, from grassroots movements to groundbreaking media representation.Her Excellency Mona Abdelkareem Al Yafaei, Director-General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS), underscored the power of hearing directly from self-advocates, while Sheikha Chaica Al Qassimi described the growing impact of SCHS’s Self-Advocacy Unit.Voices from around the world reinforced the theme: India’s Leela Raj championed “My Voice, My Choice,” Zambia’s Ruth Chihana declared, “We are not spoken for anymore, we are leading,” and Ghana’s Samuel Delali shared how community gatherings are dismantling stigma.In media, Egypt’s TV presenter Rahma Khaled Ahmed Hussein and Japan’s Pansy Media showed how authentic representation can transform perceptions.
The Congress, making its MENA debut, gathered 600 participants from 74 countries across 59 sessions, co-organised by SCHS and Inclusion International, with the Sharjah Government Media Bureau as a strategic partner.
