Some 15% of the world's population live with a disability. The aim of #WeThe15 is to ensure the voices of these 1.2 billion people are heard. Over the next ten years, the campaign plans to grow into the world's largest human rights movement for diversity. Ottobock will be working hand in hand with international organisations from the worlds of business, politics, culture and sports to fight discrimination and trigger change that will allow people with disabilities to enjoy fuller, more inclusive lives. Other partners in the campaign include the European Commission, UNESCO, UN Human Rights and the World Health Organisation.

To mark the launch of the campaign, 80 iconic landmarks around the globe will be lit up in purple – from the Niagara Falls in the USA to the Eiffel Tower in France. Purple is the official colour of the movement. Ottobock is also involved in the event. In Berlin, the company will be lighting up the Science Center as well as the chimney on the site of the former Bötzow Brewery (now home to the Ottobock Future Lab). In Duderstadt, the company headquarters will also be lit in purple.

“Diversity is in our DNA. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our users. That's why we're delighted to support the #WeThe15 campaign – in addition to the "The Valuable 500" initiative and our commitment to the Paralympic Games," explains CEO Philipp Schulte-Noelle.

The Paralympic Games, which will be opening shortly (24 August) in Tokyo, will serve to kick-start the #WeThe15 movement. Here, the International Paralympic Committee, the Invictus Games Foundation, the Special Olympics and the ICSD (International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) have joined forces for the first time ever. Their common goal is to use the Paralympic Games to draw public attention to the position of people with disabilities in society, and thus improve their quality of life.

For more than three decades, Ottobock has been proactively supporting Paralympic sports by providing technical services.The company operates technical repair service centres on site where athletes can have their equipment maintained and repaired free of charge before and during competitions. "The Paralympic Games underline the real importance of sport. When athletes believe in themselves, are passionate and motivated, they can achieve anything. We should also internalize this attitude for our daily lives", says Georgia Näder, the fourth generation to represent the owner family on the supervisory board.