RI President’s Message

The international stage has changed with the passage of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Rehabilitation International played a crucial role in the treaty’s development and hopes to play an even more crucial role in its implementation.

Through its diverse networks, RI has the opportunity to bring knowledge, skill and wisdom to the various debates and developments to come. As we move toward implementation, we will not forget about the importance of our roots in rehabilitation. The networks and knowledge in this area will be important if we are to achieve the effective inclusion of persons with disabilities and also have an impact on poverty reduction, especially in developing countries. RI will play an important part in the debates around economic and social rights including the Millennium Development Goals.

We are also prepared to tackle some of the emerging issues in the disability and rehabilitation fields, such as ensuring the inclusion of women and dealing with humanitarian emergencies, whether natural or man made, poverty reduction; moving from models based on exclusion especially in education and employment and ensuring through access to rehabilitation, that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

RI has always recognized, valued and appreciated the importance of its partners. As our work changes and expands, we will be looking for new partners and allies to collaborate with including employers, employee organizations; other international agencies, while also recognizing the importance of our original partners who have been, and will continue to be, crucial parts of our network—such as persons with disabilities, medical professionals, rehabilitation professionals, architects, policy makers, researchers, and others. The active participation of our Regions and Thematic Commissions will be crucial in carrying out our work. Everyone has an important role to play in realizing the effective inclusion of persons with disabilities in society – a vision we all share. Much remains to be done, and with focused effort, much can be achieved.

Work with us and be a part of imagining a future with rights and inclusion for all, so that the words of one of RI’s pioneering leaders, Howard Rush, are realized – “To believe in rehabilitation is to believe in humanity.”

Anne Hawker
RI President