Elham Youssefian
Elham Youssefian | |
|---|---|
الهام یوسفیان | |
| Born | Iran |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
| Occupation(s) | Human rights lawyer and disability rights advocate |
| Employer(s) | Danish Refugee Council International Disability Alliance International Refugee Assistance Project International Refugee Assistance Project |
Elham Youssefian (Persian: الهام یوسفیان) is an Iranian human rights lawyer and disability rights advocate. She has worked for the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the International Refugee Assistance Project. She campaigns for disability inclusion in climate change research and planning,
Biography
[edit]Youssefian was born in Iran. She is blind.[1] Youssefian holds a Masters degree in Human Rights Law from the London School of Economics (LSE).[2] After graduating, she practiced criminal law and family law in Iran.[3][4]
Youssefian advocated for the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the Government of Iran in 2008.[2][3] Youssefian led the documenting of violations of disability rights in Iran[2][5] and worked as a protection officer with Danish Refugee Council serving Afghan refugees in Iran until 2015.[4]
In 2015, Youssefian emigrated to the New York, United States.[2] From 2019 to 2023 she was employed as Inclusive Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor to the International Disability Alliance (IDA),[2] a global network of over 1,100 organisations representing people with disabilities.[6] In 2024, Youssefian joined the US based non-profit organization International Refugee Assistance Project as Director of Disability Inclusion and Accessibility.[7] She is co-chair of the Reference Group on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action.[8]
Youssefian has highlighted the need for more intersectional and disability inclusive climate change research and planning, particularly as climate change has a disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities.[9][10][11][12] She has challenged a lack of accessibility at international events, including the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) where she found it difficult to read draft resolutions.[13] She also spoke at the side event "Disability Inclusion in Climate Action" at the conference.[14] During the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) she was one of the three speakers at a panel to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the Work Programme on Just Transition Pathways.[15]
Youssefian joined the International Refugee Assistance Project as director of Disability Inclusion and Accessibility in March 2024. In 2025, Youssefian highlighted the "crisis within a crisis" for people with disabilities in the Russo-Ukrainian War.[16] She has written on the lives of disabled refugees in America for media outlet Common Dreams.[17]
Awards
[edit]Youssefian was named a BBC 100 Woman in 2023.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ Future Hacker (9 April 2024). #110 - Inclusive Futures: Disability and Climate Advocacy (Elham Youssefian). Retrieved 22 March 2025 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e "Elham Youssefian". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 18 March 2025. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Legal Challenges Facing Iran's 'Woman Life Freedom' Movement". Center for Human Rights in Iran. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Elham Youssefian". International Refugee Assistance Project. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ بیانیه گروهی از وکلا به یونیسف درگفتوگو با الهام یوسفیان (in Persian). 22 November 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2025 – via Radio Farda.
- ^ a b "BBC 100 Women 2023: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Elham Youssefian". World Bank Live. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ "Leaving no one behind: recommendations for inclusive and impartial humanitarian action". ODI: Think change. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Pring, John (28 October 2021). "Ground-breaking event and report could be 'catalyst' for COP 26 action on disability". Disability News Service. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Tran, Lina (13 June 2022). "The world's climate plans overlook people with disabilities". Grist. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Jodoin, Sébastien; Buettgen, Alexis; Groce, Nora; Gurung, Pratima; Kaiser, Carlos; Kett, Maria; Keogh, Mary; Macanawai, Setareki S.; Muñoz, Yolanda; Powaseu, Ipul; Stein, Michael Ashley; Stein, Penelope J. S.; Youssefian, Elham (6 March 2023). "Nothing about us without us: The urgent need for disability-inclusive climate research". PLOS Climate. 2 (3): e0000153. ISSN 2767-3200. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Johnson, Ceridwen (11 December 2023). "Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities and older people in climate action through sustainable assistive technology". ATscale. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Ruehl, Isabel (22 November 2022). "How people with disabilities fought for formal recognition at COP27". Grist. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Hakkarainen, Doris (15 November 2022). "Agency and authentic inclusion of persons with disabilities must be strengthen in climate action, argues panellists at COP27 side-event". Finnish Development NGOs. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ "Promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities at COP28". SPARK Inclusive Rural Transformation. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ^ Trew, Bel (5 February 2025). "Used as human shields, starved and under fire: The horrors people with disabilities face in Putin's war". Yahoo News. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
- ^ Youssefian, Elham (20 April 2025). "Opinion: The Last beacon of Hope Is Failing Refugees With Disabilities". Common Dreams. Retrieved 31 July 2025.