Disability Rights Promotion International Canada

How do people come to learn about the issues that face people with disabilities? For people who have a disability, the answer is easy: it’s first-hand, all day and every day. Many people, however, learn about disability issues from the media—and books, television, newspapers, and online media can influence even those who have personal experiences with disabilities. October 2011

Each year, the United Nations (UN) proclaims December 3rd as the International Day of Disabled Persons (IDDP) in order to encourage all communities, governments, service providers and individuals to focus on the contributions, achievements and human rights of persons with disabilities. During the fall of 2010, a series of presentations took place across the globe, which involved people with disabilities, disability advocates, governments and other key stakeholders with a view to the further empowerment of persons with disabilities. March 2011

In May 2009, eight people with disabilities, and their project coordinator, completed training to become disability rights monitors in order to interview other people with disabilities about their personal experiences of human rights violations. May 2010

The reality of the exercise of human rights of people with disabilities is a complex one. Our understanding of those rights frequently needs to be reviewed. In fulfillment of its mandate, Disability Rights Promotion International – Canada (DRPI – Canada) held a one-day workshop on November 10, 2009, about the existing relationships between the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, and the daily lives of people with disabilities. This event, held in Québec City, was made possible by the collaboration of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration (CIRRIS), L’Institut de Réadaptation en Déficience Physique de Québec (IRDPQ), and Regroupement des personnes des organisations de handicapées de la région 03 (ROP 03) and with the financial support of Canadian Heritage. March 2010

August 2009

“Some people can find work, but even with a job, can only afford to live in bug-infested shelters. For these people, living on the street sometimes seems easier. Some people do not receive proper health care because of being HIV-positive and the stigma that goes with that. The trauma and the horror some people have gone through almost seem impossible to be true.” February 2009