Disability Rights International
DRI protects the human rights of children and adults with disabilities worldwide. GET INVOLVED TODAY!
Established in 1993, Disability Rights International documents conditions, publishes reports on human rights enforcement, and promotes international oversight of the rights of people with mental disabilities. Drawing on the skills and experience of attorneys, mental health professionals, human rights advocates, people with mental disabilities and their family members, Disability Rights International trains and supports advocates seeking legal and service system reform and assists governments to develop laws and policies to promote community integration and human rights enforcement for people with mental disabilities. Our Worldwide Campaign to End the Institutionalization of Children seeks to draw attention to, and end, the pervasive and abusive practice of institutionalizing children with disabilities. Based in Washington, DC, Disability Rights International is forging new alliances throughout the world to challenge the discrimination and abuse faced by people with mental disabilities, as well as working with locally-based advocates to create new advocacy projects and to promote citizen participation and human rights for children and adults. SUPPORT Disability Rights International by making your tax deductible gift at www.disabilityrightsintl.org
09/21/2026
On September 10, 2026, Disability Rights International hosted a webinar titled "Citizen Data Project: Investigate, Document, and Challenge Institutionalization of Children and Adults with Disabilities."
In Part 1 of this three-part training series, DRI staff and guest experts shared strategic considerations for effectively documenting the conditions of institutions where people with disabilities are being held.
Watch the full webinar, view the presentation, and check out additional resources for documenting and challenging institutionalization: https://tinyurl.com/citizendataproject
09/21/2026
El pasado 10 de septiembre de 2026, Disability Rights International impartió un webinar titulado “Proyecto de Datos Ciudadanos: Investiga, documenta y problematiza la institucionalización de infancias y personas adultas con discapacidad”.
En esta primera de tres sesiones, el equipo de DRI y expertas aliadas compartieron consideraciones estratégicas para acercarse a la documentación de las condiciones de las personas con discapacidad detenidas en instituciones residenciales.
Escucha el webinar completo en tinyurl.com/DRIwebinardatos
Consulta la presentación en español y a las versiones en inglés aquí: tinyurl.com/datosciudadanosDRI
09/08/2026
This Thursday Sept 10th, join us for Part 1 of this three-part training webinar to equip activists to investigate, document, and challenge institutionalization.
🔗 Register Here: https://forms.gle/i6k5yvmaJCpL6pfKA
Part 1 of 3: Strategic Considerations for Effective Investigations
September 10, 2026
10 AM - 12noon EDT
Zoom Webinar
Sign language & Spanish interpretation provided
Training by DRI international staff and special guests.
Supported by International Disability Alliance & Lumos
09/02/2026
Register now for Part 1 of this three-part training webinar to equip activists to investigate, document, and challenge institutionalization.
By DRI international staff with guests:
Dovile Juodkaite, Member-elect, UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee), National Expert on WHO Quality of Rights Toolkit
Silvia Quan, Colectivo Vida Independiente
Pamela Molina, Deaf Overcoming Violence through Empowerment
🔗 Register Here: https://forms.gle/i6k5yvmaJCpL6pfKA
Part 1 of 3: Strategic Considerations for Effective Investigations
September 10, 2026
10 AM - 12noon EDT
Zoom Webinar
Sign language & Spanish interpretation provided
Training by Disability Rights International. Supported by International Disability Alliance & Lumos
08/19/2026
How do children with disabilities access justice?
In the latest issue of The Meeting Place, our Rights Spotlight explores children’s right to access justice and an effective remedy.
Taiwan Mad Alliance: shares a submission to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on children’s right to access justice and an effective remedy.
Project ENSURE: Validity Foundation and partners are working to improve communication with child victims with disabilities in the criminal justice system by strengthening access to intermediaries, support persons, and special representatives.
Swipe through to learn more about these important efforts to make justice more accessible and inclusive for children with disabilities.
The Meeting Place is a space for collaboration, participation, and disability inclusion, bringing together global communities working to advance children’s rights and disability rights.
Led by Disability Rights International, in collaboration with the Global Coalition on Deinstitutionalization (GC-DI) and Lumos Foundation.
Read the full issue at: https://www.driadvocacy.org/news/meeting-place-issue-2-july-2026
Photo Credit: DRI investigation of an orphanage in Republic of Georgia by Rob Levy
Lumos International Disability Alliance INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL TCI European Network on Independent Living - ENIL Centre for Human Rights Validity Foundation
08/17/2026
What does it take to create a world where children with disabilities are safe from violence?
In the latest issue of The Meeting Place, we spotlight the right to freedom from violence through the voices of survivors and experts by experience, alongside academics and researchers.
Swipe through for three powerful perspectives—and read the full issue for more.
The Meeting Place is a space for collaboration, participation, and disability inclusion, bringing together global communities working to advance children’s rights and disability rights.
Led by Disability Rights International, in collaboration with the Global Coalition on Deinstitutionalization (GC-DI) and Lumos Foundation.
Read the full issue at: https://www.driadvocacy.org/news/meeting-place-issue-2-july-2026
Photo Credit: DRI investigation of an orphanage in Republic of Georgia by Rob Levy
International Disability Alliance INCLUSION INTERNATIONAL TCI
European Network on Independent Living - ENIL Centre for Human Rights Validity Foundation
What if defending the rights of people with disabilities meant risking your own life? For many, it does.
That's why we're so proud that our Director of Advocacy & Litigation, Priscila Rodríguez, was recognized by The Carter Center and invited to speak about the risks human rights defenders face around the world.
For more than 30 years, Disability Rights International (DRI) has exposed torture, human trafficking, abuse, and violence against children and adults trapped in institutions. Along the way, our staff have faced arrests, intimidation, and threats simply for telling the truth.
But our work doesn't stop at exposing abuse. We also empower people with disabilities to become human rights defenders in their own communities. Over the years, we've trained hundreds of activists in more than 40 countries to stand up for their rights and the rights of others.
Human rights defenders need defenders, too.
If you believe everyone deserves dignity, freedom, and safety, please share this post and support our work to help protect those who risk everything to defend human rights.
07/22/2026
Nothing about us without us.
We joined advocates, governments, and organizations at COSP19 to advance the CRPD: the global treaty that shifted disability from charity to human rights.
06/09/2026
¡Aprendiendo sobre servicios comunitarios en Nueva York con Baltic Street Wellness Solutions!
06/08/2026
Join us tomorrow for a discussion on improving data collection methods, including OPD-led citizen data, and transparency on persons with disabilities in institutions.
Hear from governments, organizations of persons with disabilities, disability advocates, and UN experts.
Citizen Data on Residential Institutionalization for Persons with Disabilities
Tuesday, June 9, 4:45pm-6:00pm (EDT)
Watch live: tinyurl.com/CitizenDataCOSP
International Disability Alliance
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