My Vision
The pandemic has shown us, that even if the CRPD has celebrated it’s 10th anniversary, we still have a long way to go. We need to get back to basics and secure the foundation.
Whether we work with education or employment for all, with arts and culture, with access to health or social services, with transportation or something else, we need to secure the following 3 elements:
– Persons with disabilities and their organisations must have a seat at the table
– Accessibility is a prerequisite for equal access
– To achieve equality – we need to pay attention to the differences
Proven track record
Disability rights advocate for the past 20 years, serving on a large number of boards and committees including vice-chair Disabled People’s Organisations Denmark, vice-chair Knowledge Center about Disability, board member CABI better work for all.
Proven track record achieving success through cooperation with States and civil society on subjects such as equal health, universal design, independent living, inclusive education and labour market. Experienced working locally, nationally and internationally.
From being an exchange student in Indonesia, undertaking development work in Ghana and Uganda, being member of the European Economic and Social Committee and the Nordic Disability Council.
About Me
I am a woman born with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. For more than 20 years I have been a wheelchair user and a disability rights advocate. I have experienced discrimination and many obstacles, but I also had opportunities to raise myself up and to work for change on an individual, local, national and international level.
”‘Extremely efficient ’ is the phrase that comes to mind when I think about Sif Holst. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Sif for 15+ years. As a Youth Leader, I was able to work directly with her during the cooperation between Ghana Society of Physically disabled Youth Wing and the Danish Association of the Physically Disabled. Above all, I was highly impressed with Sif’s ability to guide and help nurture a disability youth organization. She is a strong woman, leader and passionate disability rights advocate who is competent, hardworking, and cooperative. Also, she is honest, enthusiastic, genuine and compassionate. Sif would be a true asset for any positions requiring disability rights advocacy, and leadership and comes with my heartfelt recommendation.”
Edmund AsieduGhanian, USA, Assistant Director, Columbia University 
“Sif is a skilled and experienced organizational development professional with a keen interest in empowerment of youth with disabilities to live independently.
While working with Sif, we were able to empower the youth with disability movement in Uganda by mobilizing marginalized youth, providing them with leadership and management skills which was very instrumental in the formation and strengthening of a youth with disability organization in Uganda. She is a team player and provides attention to detail with strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Sif has vast knowledge and experience working with the disability fraternity in the global south and has contributed immensely to the North-South development programs. Above all, she is an ardent disability rights defender and inclusive development practitioner.
Sif is highly recommended for the international relations and diplomacy fora”
While working with Sif, we were able to empower the youth with disability movement in Uganda by mobilizing marginalized youth, providing them with leadership and management skills which was very instrumental in the formation and strengthening of a youth with disability organization in Uganda. She is a team player and provides attention to detail with strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Sif has vast knowledge and experience working with the disability fraternity in the global south and has contributed immensely to the North-South development programs. Above all, she is an ardent disability rights defender and inclusive development practitioner.
Sif is highly recommended for the international relations and diplomacy fora”
Robert NkwanguUganda, Deaf Disability Inclusion Specialist While working with Sif, we were able to empower the youth with disability movement in Uganda by mobilizing marginalized youth, providing them with leadership and management skills which was very instrumental in the formation and strengthening of a youth with disability organization in Uganda. She is a team player and provides attention to detail with strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Sif has vast knowledge and experience working with the disability fraternity in the global south and has contributed immensely to the North-South development programs. Above all, she is an ardent disability rights defender and inclusive development practitioner.
Sif is highly recommended for the international relations and diplomacy fora”
“I hereby recommend Sif Holst (Denmark) to be elected as one of the new members of the CRPD Committee. I know as one of the former members of the CRPD Committee that she will be a very competent and independent member of the CRPD committee, when elected! I have known Sif Holst for many years and have seen her personal as well as professional development from good to excellent. She is capable of looking beyond own impairment and make a difference for those that are mostly marginalized, and she have substantial experience in international cooperation aiming at improving the precision and possibilities of persons with disabilities in other countries in Europe, Africa and Asia. She also has experience in collaboration with politicians at all levels and civil servants from all sectors and has capabilities to propose and promote solutions of mutual understanding and in respect for all stakeholders. I am recommending all state parties to support the election of Sif Holst! Stig Langvad, CRPD Committee 2010-2018”
Stig LangvadDenmark, CRPD Committee member 2010-2018 
It is a great pleasure to warmly recommend my colleague Ms Sif Holst, vicechair of Disabled People’s Organisations Denmark, as she is candidate of the Danish Government in the next round of election of new members to the CRPD Committee. We have worked together for some years already within Nordic and European networks of organisations representing persons with disability, the Council of Nordic Cooperation on Disability and European Disability Forum. Sif would be a valuable addition to the CRPD Committee especially considering her experience as a proven leader nationally and internationally. It is important that
the voices and experience of women with disabilities, and persons with rare disabilities and conditions, will be represented in the CRPD Committee.
Pirkko MahlamäkiFinland, secretary general at Finnish Disability Forum 
I have known Sif Holst since 2008 when she worked as a consultant for the organisation of youth with disabilities in Denmark. There was a youth project in partnership with NUDIPU, an umbrella organisation for persons with disabilities in Uganda. Sif Holst has a lot of experience and expertise in leadership, managing disability inclusive projects and programmes as well as developing strategies. She is very enthusiastic, analytical and an empowered leader who is determined to achieve the object of an organisation. Her candidature to the UN Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities is very timely as the committee is working to improve the representation of women with disabilities. Sif's experience will enable her to articulate issues related to women with disabilities, analyse state party reports with concrete views to push the disability inclusion agenda forward. She is a woman of potential who will inspire many women and girls with disabilities to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities. Sif is a world leader who should be given an opportunity to serve as a committee member. I highly recommend her to join the Committee on the rights of persons with disabilities.
Florence NdagireHuman right policy advisor at World blind union 
I've known Sif through WorldPulse.com, a worldwide sisterhood speaking out and lifting each other up, since 2018. She's a trailblazer and disability rights advocate, speaking up for girls and women with disabilities. I've been very impressed with her, and her work. She leads by example, and empowers girls and women to live up to their potential, particularly those that are marginalized by a disability.
I highly recommend Sif for any committee that would afford her the opportunity to advance the empowerment of girls and women with disabilities. I know she will get the job done through her drive, commitment, experience, and knowledge.
Jill Langhus-GriffenSpain, World Pulse Ambassado 
Sif is a highly valued vice chair at the Knowledge Centre on Disability. She shares our vision of the importance of participation and active life for people with disability and she is a strong voice in promoting this. She sees challenges and solutions in both broad and practical view. She contributes to the Center by being a strong capacity in solving strategic challenges and has an eye for development and new opportunities. She inspires others to do more. Sif is highly recommended as a strong asset for any organisation.
Dorte NørregårdDenmark, Knowledge center about disability 
I have known Sif Holst since October 2005. I have the opportunity to work with her, we implemented a project together, she was the leader of the Danish Association of the Physically Disabled whiles I was the leader of Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD) Youth Wing. What l like about Sif is her passion to nurture disability youth organisations, she is a very strong woman and a great leader as well. She is a level leader person and honest. Her competency in disability rights advocacy and her hardworking make her standard-out I therefore recommended Sif Holst for any positive.
Charles FosuGhana, Advocacy Officer 
Sif is experienced, objective and well-versed in matters concerning disabled people. She is positively minded and has a good presence. I have worked with Sif in the HNR Nordic co-operation and also in RNSV, where she is well informed and fair. I consider the CRPD committee very well appointed with Sif on board
Þuríður Harpa SigurðardóttirChairperson Öryrkjabandalag Íslands, ÖB 
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As one of the World’s oldest federations of organisations of persons with disabilities, DPOD has since 1934 effectively represented its member organisations, amounting today to 35 and thereby around 340,000 persons with disabilities. DPOD is known as a significant voice in achieving rights of persons with disabilities in Denmark as well as in supporting partner organisations of persons with disabilities in African and Asian countries.