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| Inclusion International | |
|---|---|
| Name | Inclusion International |
| Founded | 1952 |
| Headquarters | Unknown |
| Type | International non-governmental organization |
| Region served | Global |
| Website | (not provided) |
Inclusion International is a global federation that advocates for the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities and their families, connecting national and regional groups to influence international institutions and public policy. It operates across multiple continents, engaging with bodies such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization while collaborating with disability rights movements, family organizations, and service providers. The federation combines grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, capacity building, and peer support to promote deinstitutionalization, inclusive services, and legal recognition of rights codified in instruments like the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Founded in the early 1950s amid postwar transnational civil society growth, the federation emerged alongside organizations such as Save the Children, Rotary International, and Red Cross. Early milestones include participation in UNESCO and consultations with the Council of Europe and representatives from national associations like Mencap, The Arc (United States), and Down Syndrome International. During the 1970s and 1980s it engaged with regional bodies such as the European Commission, the Organization of American States, and the African Union precursor networks. The 1990s and 2000s saw intensified collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the International Labour Organization, and advocacy around the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons and later the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It has worked with philanthropic institutions like the Ford Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on disability inclusion projects. Key contemporary interactions include partnerships with UNICEF, UNESCO, World Bank, and civil society coalitions such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on human rights and community-based services.
The federation's stated mission aligns with international human rights frameworks developed by actors including the United Nations Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Objectives emphasize promoting independent living advocated by groups such as Independent Living Institute and Disabled Peoples' International, advancing education access championed by organizations like Save the Children and Special Olympics International, and securing legal protections comparable to those pursued by Equality and Human Rights Commission entities. The organization prioritizes deinstitutionalization policies similar to campaigns led by Human Rights Watch and research networks like the Global Initiative on Psychiatry. Other objectives align with the Sustainable Development Goals advanced by the United Nations General Assembly and monitored by agencies such as the UNDP.
The federation follows a membership model comparable to global federations like Amnesty International and World Wide Fund for Nature with a governance framework influenced by practices from International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and ILO tripartite consultation. Leadership includes elected board members, regional chairs, and an executive team paralleling structures found in UNICEF and World Health Organization secretariats. Decision-making occurs through international assemblies similar to those convened by World Vision and International Committee of the Red Cross. Regional operations mirror arrangements used by the European Disability Forum, African Disability Forum, and Asia-Pacific Development Center on Disability.
Programmatically, the federation develops advocacy campaigns, capacity-building workshops, and peer-led initiatives akin to programs run by Human Rights Watch, International Rescue Committee, and Mercy Corps. Initiatives include community-based services modeled after practices from Community Living Movement and deinstitutionalization projects partnered with agencies like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. Education inclusion projects reflect collaborations with UNESCO and special education networks such as Council for Exceptional Children. Health inclusion work aligns with programs by the World Health Organization and research hubs like Harvard School of Public Health. Employment and social entrepreneurship pilots draw on frameworks used by ILO and Skoll Foundation grantees.
The federation engages in treaty advocacy at venues such as the United Nations Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly, interfacing with treaty bodies like the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It participates in policy dialogues with the World Health Organization, the European Commission, and national legislatures influenced by groups including Disability Rights UK and The Arc (United States). Strategic litigation and amicus interventions echo methods used by American Civil Liberties Union and Equality Now. The federation contributes to monitoring mechanisms and shadow reports submitted to UN bodies, collaborating with networks such as International Disability Alliance and research institutions like London School of Economics and University of Toronto.
Membership encompasses national family organizations, advocacy groups, and service providers comparable to memberships in Global Network for People Living with HIV and International Federation of Social Workers. Regional affiliates reflect the presence of entities like Mencap, The Arc (United States), Autism Europe, and Down Syndrome International. The network fosters peer support similar to models used by Alzheimer's Disease International and Médecins Sans Frontières’s country chapters. It convenes global councils and regional committees in formats analogous to assemblies run by World Bank constituencies and UNDP country programming networks.
Funding streams combine grants from foundations such as Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, contracts with multilateral agencies like the World Bank and UNICEF, and philanthropic donors including IKEA Foundation and Gates Cambridge Trust models. Partnerships extend to civil society networks such as Human Rights Watch, academic partners like Harvard University and University College London, and service organizations such as Special Olympics International and Rotary International. Collaborative research and program delivery often involve think tanks and policy institutes like Brookings Institution and Chatham House.