Equity in Sight: From Commitment to Action

By Louisa Syrett and Clare Szalay Timbo  
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In the lead up to the Global Summit for Eye Health 2026, women leaders from around the world will come together to launch Equity in Sight: A Statement of Commitment. More than a declaration, this is a collective promise to advance gender equity in eye health through action, accountability, and leadership.

The need is clear. Women and girls make up most people living with vision loss globally, yet they remain less likely to access the care they need. These disparities are not inevitable. They are the result of social, economic, and structural barriers that can and must be addressed.

This statement recognizes that change requires more than good intentions. It calls on leaders and indeed all working across the eye health sector to design programmes that reflect women's realities, advocate for gender-responsive funding, champion equitable policies, and ensure that women and girls are represented in decisions that affect their lives. This statement was shaped through the collective wisdom and leadership of women from across the eye health community, strengthening its relevance, inclusivity, and call to action.

Why Women Leaders Are Taking a Stand

Women are at the heart of eye health systems as clinicians, programme managers, researchers, community health workers, advocates, and patients. Yet too often, women's voices and perspectives are underrepresented in leadership and decision-making spaces.

By signing this statement, women leaders are committing to use their influence, expertise, and platforms to close gender gaps and create more equitable systems for future generations.

Why Allies and Men Should Support It

Gender equity is not a women's issue. It is a sector-wide responsibility.

Allies and men play a critical role in shaping workplace cultures, funding decisions, policies, partnerships, and leadership opportunities. Their endorsement demonstrates a shared commitment to removing barriers, advancing inclusion, and ensuring that eye health systems work for everyone.

Supporting Equity in Sight means recognizing that stronger outcomes for women and girls in eye health and broader health lead to stronger outcomes for communities, health systems, and societies as a whole.

A Call for Accountability

Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the statement is its commitment to accountability. Signatories are not simply expressing support for gender equality; they are inviting the global eye health community to measure progress and hold them accountable for delivering on these commitments.

Equity in Sight is ultimately about moving from conversation to action. It is a call to build a future where no woman or girl is left behind, where leadership is inclusive, and where eye health systems are designed with equity at their core.
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This is more than a statement. It is an invitation to commit, act, and lead together.
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Learn more about this initiative here and sign it today: equityinsight.org