A treaty to regulate the global trade in weapons was adopted at the United Nations General Assembly on 2nd April by 154 member states. For the first time, major exporting countries like France, the United Kingdom and the United States have accepted the need to set standards for the transfer of conventional weapons. Although the treaty contains a number of flaws, Handicap International welcomes the fact that an overwhelming majority of United Nations member states have taken steps to prevent the human tragedies witnessed by our teams every day in the field.

The Australian aid program was recognised for its global leadership on disability-inclusive approaches in humanitarian settings at an event in New York on 2 May 2013.

The prestigious ‘Voices of Courage’ award was presented to Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr Gary Quinlan, by the Women’s Refugee Commission, an international non-government organisation that seeks to advance the rights and dignity of refugees. Two former refugees, Dahabo Hassan Maow and Atim Caroline Ogwang Atanga, also shared their stories and received awards.

Suisse – L’OIM et la Fédération Handicap International ont signé un mémorandum d’accord visant à collaborer dans des situations d’urgence pour aider des personnes vulnérables, dont les personnes handicapées et blessées, et celles qui sont confrontées à des déplacements forcés, en particulier après une catastrophe naturelle.

Switzerland – IOM and the Handicap International Federation have signed a global Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together in emergencies to help vulnerable people, including people with disabilities, the injured, and those struggling with forced displacement, particularly following natural disasters.

Mientras que muchos de los involucrados en el Comité sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad puede conocer las obligaciones establecidas por la Convención Sobre la Prohibición de Minas Antipersonal y el trabajo de la Unidad de Apoyo a la Implementación de la Convención (ISU en inglés), otros se preguntarán por qué una representante de la secretaría - de lo que muchos consideran en Ginebra es un tratado de desarme - aborda al Comité de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad.

A disaster, above all, relates to people as it affects their state of physical, mental and social wellbeing. Destruction, even if it is sudden and massive, is not a disaster unless there are repercussions for the population. In this context, health services are essential 24/7, for all women and men, anywhere in the world.

Women with disabilities are twice as likely to be victims of domestic violence as other women [1].Based on this finding,Handicap International has decided to highlight their plight when it takes the floor at the 57th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, on International Women’s Day. According to Muriel Mac-Seing, Technical Advisor on gender based violence at Handicap International, “Women with disabilities often face double discrimination. It’s our duty to bring this injustice to an end.”

This booklet provides information on the current status of child blindness around the world and the work of essential U.S. government humanitarian and development assistance programs funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in addressing this serious problem.

USAID, in partnership with 25 U.S. and internationally based nongovernmental organizations, is working with the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations to eradicate preventable and treatable causes of childhood blindness.

Since 2003, Campaign Raises Nearly $74 Million, Supports More than 10 Million Children

Media Contact Eileen Burke 203.216.0718 (M)

WESTPORT, Conn. (Feb. 8, 2013) — The IKEA Foundation along with IKEA customers and co-workers have partnered together on a $12 million donation to Save the Children and UNICEF for global education projects.