Pictured (from left to right) are RI President Michael Fox, UN Special Rapporteur for Disabilities Sheika Hissa Al-Thani, and Prince Ra'ad Bin Zeid of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in Jordan for a meeting of the Panel of Experts in March 2008. The Panel of Experts is composed of representatives of international organizations of persons with disabilities and the UN Secretariat, who provide guidance to the UN Special Rapporteur.

Pictured (from left to right) are RI President Michael Fox, UN Special Rapporteur for Disabilities Sheika Hissa Al-Thani, and Prince Ra'ad Bin Zeid of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in Jordan for a meeting of the Panel of Experts in March 2008. The Panel of Experts is composed of representatives of international organizations of persons with disabilities and the UN Secretariat, who provide guidance to the UN Special Rapporteur.

Partnerships

RI maintains official relations with, among others, the following organizations:

  • United Nations (UN)
  • Economic and Social Council
  • World Health Organization
  • International Labor Office (ILO)
  • UNESCO
  • UNICEF
  • UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
  • Organization of American States (OAS)
  • European Union (EU)
  • Council of Europe

RI also works closely with other disability organizations, actively participating in the International Disability Alliance (IDA), a coalition of the world's largest international and regional organizations of people with disabilities. Much of the work of IDA has been possible because of the general support of the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

In the context of the new UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, RI is actively engaged in the International Disability Caucus (IDC), a network of over 65 international, regional and national disability organizations and non-governmental organizations. The IDC served as a representative voice of persons with disabilities in the negotiations toward the UN Convention and continues to promote implementation of this important new treaty.

RI also works closely with international and regional organizations such as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), universities and research institutions and experts on disability issues worldwide.

RI always welcomes new partners. If you would like to become RI's partner on a project or advocacy effort, please contact:

RI Secretariat
25 East 21 Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10010, USA
Tel.: +1 212-420-1500
Fax: +1 212-505-0871
E-mail: RI@riglobal.org
Website: www.riglobal.org