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Diane Kingston OBE (formerly Diane Mulligan), is a human rights defender and international development specialist. [1] [2] She is the Global Technical Lead for Disability Rights and Equalities Sightsavers [3] and a volunteer for Shout- the mental health crisis text service
Kingston was born on 4 October 1966 and brought up in Barnstaple, North Devon. [2] She left school with few qualifications, a fact attributed to undiagnosed dyslexia, [4] but was accepted as a mature student at Queen's University, Belfast. She graduated in 1995 with First Class honours in Women's Studies and went on to get a master's degree in Science and Technology Policy from the Science and Policy Research Unit at the University of Sussex. [5]
Kingston has worked on social justice issues all her life, in particular relating to international development and human rights. She worked at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) as a research officer [6] before becoming the joint Country Director of VSO Indonesia. [7] The loss of a leg in a road traffic accident in Indonesia [8] led to relocation to the UK. Kingston then became the global disability advisor for Sightsavers, [9] where she co-authored policy briefs on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and people with disabilities, [10] and disability and social inclusion. [11] From 2011 to 2017, Kingston was the Deputy Director of Advocacy and Alliances for CBM, a Christian international development organisation. She was the lead author of CBM's position paper on the post-MDG global framework, [12] co-editor of its 2030 development goals publication [13] and author of their infographic showing the relationship between disability rights and the Sustainable Development Goals. [14] From 2017 to 2019, Kingston was the senior advisor for policy and government affairs at Frontline AIDS. [15] In 2019, she authored their publication on linking HIV to the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights. [16] Kingston was a member of the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) Independent Reference Group on tackling sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment., [17] between 2019-2021 and was a non-executive director of the board of Development Initiatives from 2019-2021
Kingston became engaged in the national disability arena in the UK from 2006 after her return from Indonesia. Notable achievements in this field have included serving on the Disability Committee of the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission [18] (EHRC) and membership of Equality 2025, [19] formerly the UK advisory group to Government for disability equality.
She is a former Co-Chair of the United Nations task group for the International Disability and Development Consortium [20] and Chair of the Disability and Development Group of BOND, the UK membership body for organisations working in international development. [21] She supported Go ON Gold, which was a national campaign to raise awareness about the barriers faced by disabled people in accessing computers and the internet. [22] Kingston was appointed an OBE in the 2010 New Year Honours for services to disabled people and to equal opportunities. [1]
In 2012 Kingston became the UK elected member of the Expert Committee for the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, [23] she served as a UN Expert for a four-year term, including two years as an elected vice-Chairperson. She participated in both the Committee's working group on women and girls with disabilities (Article 6) producing its General Comment, and the communications and inquiries working group. [24] In November 2017, Kingston was a member of an International Review Committee (IRC) invited by the government of Taiwan, to review its initial report on the implementation of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities outside of the UN system [25]
Since 2021 Kingston has been a member of the Foreign and Commonwealth and Development Office's External Disability Board
From 2007-2011, Kingston was a member of the World Health Organization's Advisory Board for Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR), she was the lead author of that organisation's CBR guidelines component on education. [26] From 2006 to 2007, she served on the British Medical Association's Patient Liaison Group and Equal Opportunities Committee, and had advisory input into two publications: Disability in the Medical Profession (2007) [27] and Disability Equality within Healthcare: the role of healthcare professionals (2007). [28] Kingston has a particular interest in ADHD. From 2006-2008 she was a member of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's Guideline Development Group [29] on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. [30]
Kingston is an official supporter of the Global Initiative to End all Corporal Punishment of Children [31] and has campaigned for a change in the law to allow UK Members of Parliament to job share to enable more people from under-represented groups to stand for Parliament. [32] Since 2017 she has been a Human Rights Advisor to Dementia Alliance International [33]
Kingston has been a guest lecturer on disability and international development at University College London. [34] She is a member of the International Disabled People Advisory Committee of PENDA at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. [35] and has been a guest lecturer on their Global Disability and Health study unit. [36]
• Miles, S., Fefoame, G O., Mulligan, D. & Haque, Z. (2012) 'Education for diversity: the role of networking in resisting disabled people's marginalisation in Bangladesh'. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education Routledge.
• Wickenden, M., Mulligan, D., Fefoame, G.O. & Katende, P. (2012) 'Stakeholder consultations on community-based rehabilitation guidelines in Ghana and Uganda', African Journal of Disability 1(1) Article #1.
• Mulligan, D, & Barclay, H. (2009) 'Tackling violence against women – lessons for efforts to tackle other forms of targeted violence', Safer Communities, Pier Professional, Hove, UK.
• Howell, J. & Mulligan, D. (eds.) (2005) Gender and Civil Society: Transcending Boundaries, Routledge, London.
• Mulligan, D. 'The discourse of Dangdut: gender and civil society in Indonesia' in Howell, J. & Mulligan, D.(2005) Gender and Civil Society: Transcending Boundaries, Routledge, London.
International development or global development is a broad concept denoting the idea that societies and countries have differing levels of economic or human development on an international scale. It is the basis for international classifications such as developed country, developing country and least developed country, and for a field of practice and research that in various ways engages with international development processes. There are, however, many schools of thought and conventions regarding which are the exact features constituting the "development" of a country.
The disability rights movement is a global social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunities and equal rights for all people with disabilities.
In the United Nations, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 created following the Millennium Summit, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. These were based on the OECD DAC International Development Goals agreed by Development Ministers in the "Shaping the 21st Century Strategy". The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) succeeded the MDGs in 2016.
The social model of disability identifies systemic barriers, derogatory attitudes, and social exclusion, which make it difficult or impossible for disabled people to attain their valued functionings. The social model of disability diverges from the dominant medical model of disability, which is a functional analysis of the body as a machine to be fixed in order to conform with normative values. While physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychological variations may result in individual functional differences, these do not necessarily have to lead to disability unless society fails to take account of and include people intentionally with respect to their individual needs. The origin of the approach can be traced to the 1960s, and the specific term emerged from the United Kingdom in the 1980s.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called "International Day of Disabled Persons" until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a different issue.
Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) is a cross disability, consumer controlled international non-governmental organization (INGO) headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and with regional offices in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and North America and the Caribbean. DPI is a network of national organizations or assemblies of disabled people, established in 1980–81 to promote the human rights of disabled people through full participation, equalization of opportunity and development. DPI assists organisations in over 152 nations with the day to day issues of helping disabled people. They also host assemblies and symposiums across the world with their different national branches.
Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is an international Christian development organization, committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world. It is considered one of the world's oldest and largest organizations working in this field. CBM was founded in 1908 by the German pastor Ernst Jakob Christoffel, who built homes for blind children, orphans, physically disabled, and deaf persons in Turkey and Iran. Initially CBM's efforts were focused on preventing and curing blindness but now cover other causes of disability.
Jane Susan Campbell, Baroness Campbell of Surbiton, is a British disability rights campaigner and a life peer in the House of Lords. She was Commissioner of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), and served as the Chair of the Disability Committee which led on to the EHRC Disability Programme. She was the former Chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). She was a Commissioner at the Disability Rights Commission (DRC).
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an international human rights treaty of the United Nations intended to protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Parties to the convention are required to promote, protect, and ensure the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy full equality under the law. The Convention serves as a major catalyst in the global disability rights movement enabling a shift from viewing persons with disabilities as objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection towards viewing them as full and equal members of society, with human rights. The convention was the first U.N. human rights treaty of the twenty-first century.
Leonard Cheshire is a major health and welfare charity working in the United Kingdom and running development projects around the world. It was founded in 1948 by Royal Air Force officer Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC.
The International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) is a global consortium of disability and development related organisations. The aim of IDDC is to promote inclusive development internationally, with a special focus on promoting human rights for all disabled people living in economically poor communities in lower and middle-income countries.
Sightsavers is an international non-governmental organisation that works with partners in developing countries to treat and prevent avoidable blindness, and promote equality for people with visual impairments and other disabilities. It is based in Haywards Heath in the United Kingdom, with branches in Sweden, Norway, India, Italy, Republic of Ireland, the United Arab Emirates, and the US.
Ola Abu Al Ghaib or Ola Abualghaib is a Palestinian disability rights advocate. In August 2019, she was appointed Manager of the Technical Secretariat of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD).
Rosaleen (Rosie) Moriarty-Simmonds is a British businesswoman, artist and disability rights campaigner. She was born without arms or legs after her mother was prescribed thalidomide in pregnancy.
Nidhi Goyal is an Indian disability and gender rights activist who has been appointed to the UN Women Executive Director's advisory group. Goyal is the founder and executive director of Mumbai-based NGO Rising Flame and works in the areas of sexuality, gender, health and rights for women and girls with disabilities. She is also a stand-up comedian.
Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame is a Ghanaian gender and disability rights advocate and the first person with a disability to have received the Excellence Grand Medal Award in 2007 from President John Kufuor.
Lorraine Susan Gradwell MBE was a British disability rights campaigner and sports person, feminist writer and poet.
Rachel Mary Rosalind Hurst CBE is a British activist and former director of Disability Awareness in Action (DAA), an international network working on disability and human rights.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) are connected through their common goals of addressing global challenges and promoting sustainable development through policies and international cooperation.