DRI’s work and media campaigns have exposed to the world the horrors these children face. The New York Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Huffington Post, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNN, social media, ABC, NPR, NBC, news and documentaries – just to name a few - have continually covered DRI’s work, including DRI’s opinion and editorial pieces, resulting in uninterrupted pressure on those who have the power to assist in making change.

Sweeping legal victory before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission just announced a decision against Guatemala in the case of Federico Mora Patients v. Guatemala that sets legal precedent to protect people with disabilities in Guatemala and throughout the Americas. The case was brought by Disability Rights International (DRI) and the Guatemalan Colectivo Vida Independiente, joined by the Center for Health and Human Rights, O’Neill Institute of Georgetown University Law Center.

Trafficking of children and adults with disabilities: DRI's Director Eric Rosenthal joins UN Special Rapporteur Heba Hagrass in speaking out at the United Nations

Eric Rosenthal, Executive Director of Disability Rights International (DRI), discussed DRI findings on exploitation and trafficking from institutions, joined by UN Special Rapporteur on Disability and international activists. 

View Full Event Recording: UN Web TV - Live Broadcast

DRI sponsored UN COSP virtual side-event on June 9th - Overcoming abuse, trauma, and exclusion in indigenous communities

Disability Rights International (DRI) hosted this UN COSP virtual side-event exploring the challenges that indigenous people with disabilities are facing in communities in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and the United States.

Overcoming abuse, trauma, and exclusion in indigenous communities: 
Innovative approaches to mental health and education
Monday, June 9 | 11:30-12:45 PM ET
Zoom Webinar

Speakers:

Introduction & Moderator:

International Forum "Children and Adolescents with Disabilities: Perspectives, Rights and Challenges"

To mark the forthcoming Children's Day in Mexico, on April 23, 2025, Disability Rights International and the Mexico City Institute for People with Disabilities organized the International Forum "Children and Adolescents with Disabilities: Perspectives, Rights and Challenges" set out to foster a space for dialogue and reflection of the diverse challenges faced by children and adolescents with disabilities and their support networks and families in different contexts.

Community Forum on US Foreign Policy and Funding Cuts: Understanding the Impact on the Global Disability Community

MEETING REPORT AND ACTION STEPS NOW AVAILABLE (click read more below)

DRI and USICD hosted an international gathering bringing together disability, human rights, and international development leaders to discuss the impact on people with disabilities of Trump Administration foreign policy changes and funding cuts.

DRI Founder, Eric Rosenthal, speaks at the UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue on disability and Sustainable Development Goals

Eric Rosenthal, DRI Founder & Executive Director, spoke at the recent webinar, Making the SDGs Work for and with Persons with Disabilities: A UN DESA Global Policy Dialogue on Tuesday, December 17th. 

View the event recording here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15pdgmjgt 

DRI Speaks Out Against Institutionalization of Children at First Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children

DRI’s Associate Director, Priscila Rodríguez, spoke at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Violence Against Children on how institutionalization of children is a form of violence and it needs to stop. Children belong in families and governments have the obligations to support them to guarantee their right to grow up in a family.

Watch a recording of the event (in Spanish) here