In brief
At a young age, Isidora Uribe Silva faced bullying and exclusion due to her cerebral palsy, which ignited her advocacy for disability rights and inclusion. Now at 20, she leverages her experiences to promote accessibility and equality at a global level, including initiatives with the United Nations.
Isidora Uribe Silva's journey began when she faced her first encounter with discrimination at just 12 years old. “Before that, having cerebral palsy was something that didn’t affect my social interactions. But once I switched schools, everything changed,” she recalled, reflecting on the bullying she endured from peers and a lack of support from teachers. This isolation forced her out of the educational scene for seven months until she found a supportive environment at Institución Teresiana in Santiago, Chile, where she now calls home.This early struggle shaped Ms. Uribe Silva’s understanding of systemic exclusion, not only for herself but for many marginalized individuals globally. Now 20, she is a law student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and has committed herself to fighting for inclusion policies and equality, especially for women with disabilities.At just 13 years old, she took a significant step by developing an app called Encuentra Tu Lugar (Find Your Place), aimed at assisting disabled individuals in locating accessible parking spaces across Chile. This initiative marked the beginning of her broader goals, leading to the establishment of a foundation with the same name. Her dedication did not go unnoticed; Ms. Uribe Silva became a member of the Generation Equality Adolescent Committee of U.N. Women and was selected for the U.N. Women Leaders Network, which was instituted during the annual session of the U.N. General Assembly in September. The network focuses on advocating for equitable gender representation in leadership and decision-making processes.In her own words, she emphasizes the importance of her work, saying, “It is vital that we advocate for those who often go unheard. My journey is not just about me—it's about creating a world where equality is the norm." Through her initiatives and passion for advocacy, Isidora Uribe Silva continues to inspire action towards a more inclusive future for everyone.
