RI is a global and diverse organization bringing together expertise from different sectors in the disability field, advancing and implementing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
At the 21st World Congress in Quebec in August 2008, RI made its historic transition to its first woman president, Anne Hawker of New Zealand (seated, front left). RI also welcomed the new RI Secretary General, Venus Ilagan of the Philippines (seated, front right). Pictured here, Immediate Past President Michael Fox of Australia (standing, left) and former Secretary General Tomas Lagerwall of Sweden (standing, right).
Upcoming RI Meetings:
For more information about upcoming RI events, see http://www.riglobal.org/events/index.html or contact ri@riglobal.org.
RI Regional Conference "Strategies for Implementation: Good Practices for Accessibility and Inclusion", Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 11-12 2009.
For more information please contact: The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs P.O. Box 809 4409-5023 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel.: 04-0611111 / Fax: 04 2612116 / E-mail: disable_id@msa.gov.ae
Latest News
December 17, 2008: RI is pleased to announce that RI Foundation Board Chair, Ambassador Luis Gallegos, has been inducted into the National Spinal Cord Injury Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his significant work in the promotion and protection of human rights of persons with disabilities. For more information: www.spinalcord.org.
December 10, 2008: On 60th Anniversary of UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, RI Stresses Universality of Disability Rights
Press Release
December 3, 2008: On International Disability Day, RI calls on all States to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Press Release
November 2008: RI Social Commission Chair Joseph Kwok Speaks at 20th Anniversary of Bright Future Group for People with Disabilities in Hanoi
An event celebarting the two decades of achievements of the Bright Future Group in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on 16 November 2008. As part of the event, Mr. Kwok gave a tribute to the late Peter Chan, disability advocate and former RI Vice President.
November 2008: African Decade of Persons With Disabilities Extended to December 2019
The AU Continental Decade of Persons with Disabilities has been extended to December 2019.
Secretariat of African Decade
October 1 , 2008: Costa Rica, Austria, Uganda and New Zealand bring the number of ratifying States to 41: Signatories and Ratifications (Word)| Signatories and Ratifications (Large Print)
August 25-28, 2008: RI 21st World Congress, Quebec city, Canada: Presentation by Gerard Quinn
August 25, 2008: RI Assembly Welcomes Historic Change in RI Leadership and Takes Important Steps Towards Implementing Strategic Plan Press Release (Word)
July 14, 2008: Distinguished Disability Advocate Venus Ilagan Appointed as new RI Secretary General
Press Release (pdf) | Press Release (Word)
April 15-16 2008: Mark your calendar! RI Latin American Regional Conference on Disability Rights Convention, in Mexico City in April 2008
(Word - English) | Text-Only - English | Word - Spanish | Text-Only - Spanish
Tentative Program (PDF -English) |
Tentative Program (Word - English) |
Programa Tentativo (PDF - Spanish) |
Programa Tentativo (Word - Spanish)
January 28 &29 2008: Conference on Disability and Disasters:
Presentation Paper by Michael Fox & Key note address by Tomas Lagerwall.
December 2007: Special edition of International Rehabilitation Review on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PDF) | Word version
December 13, 2007: RI launches Training Manual and Participant Manual on HIV/AIDS Awareness and Disability Rights, specially-designed for young people with disabilities in Africa. Participants manual | Training manual
