July 28

DRI Celebrates Senate Passage of International Children with Disabilities Protection Act

Chairman Menendez Applauds Senate Passage of National Defense Legislation Including Foreign Relations Committee Priorities U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement following the U.S. Senate’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024. This year’s defense package included numerous priorities Chairman Menendez spearheaded […]

June 7

DRI Webinar – Families find a way: Children with disabilities in war-torn Ukraine

Hear them speak out Recording of the webinar available from the following links: Recording in Ukrainian HERE Recording with English Translation HERE Disability Rights International (DRI) and Disability Rights Ukraine (DRU) release a report based on interviews and a survey of more than 500 families throughout Ukraine. Moderator: Olga Levshukova, Ukraine Program Associate, DRI Lead […]

March 31

Stop Abduction of Ukrainian Children

In NYT, DRI President Calls for Protection of Ukrainian Families To the Editor: Re “Russia Signals Intention to Deport More Children” (news article, March 19): Many of the teens and toddlers abducted by Russia from Ukraine have been taken from orphanages, but are not orphans at all. They have parents and extended families. Most end […]

November 21

Senate Briefing & Reception

Celebrating International Day of Disability and the International Children with Disabilities Protection Act When:  Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 3:30-5 PM (please arrive early to go through security) Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SDG-11, 50 Constitution Ave. NE Accessible visitor’s entrance: 1st & C St. NE Accommodations: Sign language will be available Reception:  Refreshments before/after […]

October 4

Bipartisan Senators Introduce International Children with Disabilities Protection Act in US Congress

This bill represents everything we’ve been working on for over two decades. All children — especially children with disabilities — need our support to live and grow up in a loving family. And they need protection against being placed in orphanages or other institutions. —   Laurie Ahern, President, Disability Rights International Today, a bipartisan group of senators, led […]

September 15

UN CRPD Committee Approves New Guidelines on Deinstitutionalization, including times of emergency.

On September 9, 2022 the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) adopted the new Guidelines on Deinstitutionalization, including times of emergency. The Guidelines provide a roadmap to governments, disability activists, and donors about the immediate steps needed to end the practice of institutionalization and residential treatment or care for people with disabilities. […]

June 21

NBC News Highlights DRI’s Work in Ukraine

Russia’s War Creates Orphanage Crisis In Ukraine More than 11 million people have fled Ukraine as a result of Russia’s invasion. But many of most the vulnerable — mentally and physically disabled children — have been left behind.