Disability Inclusion

Abia Akram

CEO

National forum of women with disabilities

Islamabad · English

Biography

Profile: Abia Akram Abia Akram Disability Rights Leader | Gender Equality Advocate | Global Inclusion Champion Abia Akram is a Pakistani disability rights leader, gender expert, and internationally recognized advocate for the rights, leadership, and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities. She has been active in the disability rights movement since 1997, advancing change from grassroots communities to national policymaking and international forums. Professional biography Abia Akram is a pioneering Pakistani disability rights advocate whose work focuses on advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls with disabilities. Drawing on her lived experience of physical disability, she has dedicated her career to challenging discrimination, strengthening organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and ensuring that persons with disabilities participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives. She is the Founder and CEO of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD) and a senior leader at the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), two organizations working to advance disability rights, accessibility, gender equality, and inclusive development in Pakistan. She has also played a significant role in building national and regional networks, including the Ageing and Disability Task Force (ADTF) and the Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities United (APWWDU). Her advocacy spans the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inclusive education and employment, gender-based violence prevention, accessible technology, disability-inclusive humanitarian action, and disaster risk reduction. Leadership and key roles Founder and CEO — National Forum of Women with Disabilities (NFWWD), Pakistan. Founder and Project Director — Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP), advancing disability rights and inclusive development. Founder and Co-Chair — Ageing and Disability Task Force (ADTF), supporting disability-inclusive humanitarian response. Founder and Chair — Asia Pacific Women with Disabilities Network. Founder and Chair — Global Forum on the Leadership of Women and Girls with Disabilities. Trustee — Sightsavers UK Board. Regional and international advocate — Engages with UN agencies, governments, civil society networks, and disability rights organizations on inclusive policies and programmes. Education

Areas of expertise

• Leadership of women with disabilities
• Strengthening networks on national
• regional and global levels
• Policy and law enforcement
• reform

Key achievements

Abia holds a master's degree in Gender and International Development from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, earned through the prestigious Chevening Scholarship. She is recognized as the first Pakistani woman with a disability to receive this scholarship. Her academic and advocacy work has helped connect grassroots experiences with international development policy.  Awards and recognition Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — Government of Pakistan Pakistan's civil award recognizing her contributions to disability inclusion and the rights and empowerment of women with disabilities.  BBC 100 Women — 2021 International recognition for her work and leadership in advancing disability rights.  WIN DRR Leadership Award — 2023 Recognized for leadership in inclusive disaster risk reduction.  Presidential Human Rights Award Recognition of her contributions to human rights and equality in Pakistan.  Other recognitions include the British Council Alumni Award, Chevening 35 Global Changemakers recognition, and the Khadija Tul Kubra Distinguished Award. Key areas of impact Women's leadership: Creating platforms for women with disabilities to lead advocacy, organizations, and policy reforms. Gender equality and protection: Promoting accessible services, prevention of gender-based violence, and the rights of women and girls with disabilities. Inclusive humanitarian action: Advocating for accessible emergency preparedness, disaster response, and recovery. Policy and legislation: Promoting implementation of the UNCRPD and disability-inclusive national policies. Technology and accessibility: Supporting accessible information, digital inclusion, and innovative approaches to connecting persons with disabilities to services. International cooperation: Building partnerships among OPDs, governments, UN agencies, and development organizations. Vision and leadership philosophy Abia's work reflects the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us.” Her vision is a society in which persons with disabilities, especially women and girls, are recognized as rights-holders, decision-makers, and leaders—not merely beneficiaries of development programmes. Through decades of advocacy, she has helped bring the voices of women with disabilities into spaces where they have historically been underrepresented, linking community-led action with institutional and international change.  This profile can serve as a foundation for a speaker biography, institutional website, international conference introduction, award nomination, or professional portfolio.

International experience

Asia

More than 35 countries

Engagement interests

Speaker · Panelist · TV / Radio · Podcast · Mentor · Training

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