About Us

“The Arab Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (AFRPD)” is a membership organization consisting of national organizations and networks representing individuals with various disabilities. We are a platform that holds a representation status of persons with disabilities in the Arab region. Our organization was founded in 2014, and legally registered in Lebanon, according to the certification (1063) issued by the Lebanese Ministry of Interior in 2017. We aim to strengthen the disability movement in the Arab region and advocate for the rights of disabled men and women as outlined in the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We hold the representation status of the regional office of Disabled People's International (DPI) in the Arab World. Our country members include: Jordan, Tunisia, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, Morocco, Palestine, Mauritania, and Yemen. We actively participated in regional platforms launched by the Economic and Social Council of Western Asia (ESCWA) and other regional networks and initiatives related to sustainable development and disability rights. Today, we are recognized as a leading regional organization on disability rights by the United Nations and other stakeholders in the Arab world and globally.

Our Vision

To create an inclusive Arab region that empowers all marginalized communities, enabling people with disabilities to fully exercise their rights. We envsion a society that transcends exclusion and discrimination, championing human rights, diversity, and inclusion. By dismantling existing practices that perpetuate marginalization, we strive to forge a region where every individual thrives regardless of their identity or background.

Our Mission

We collaborate with grassroots movements, disabled individuals, and stakeholders to advance disability rights within a framework of diversity and inclusion. Through advocacy, we drive the alignment of national laws with the CRPD, human rights treaties, and the Sustainable Development Agenda. Recognizing the multidimensional impact of disability across populations, we foster inclusive cultures, engaging underrepresented groups. Our approach emphasizes grassroots advocacy and strategic partnerships to influence policy, capacity-building, and regional cooperation. By uniting as a disability network, we advocate for policy development in alignment with the UN CRPD, placing disability inclusion at the heart of sustainable development and ensuring that no one is left behind.

AFRPD's GOALS

STRATEGIC GOAL 1:
Enhancing internal organizational development of AFRPD and its member networks

This goal focuses on the advancement of AFRPD's internal structures and its collaborative networks. By achieving this objective, we aim to establish a robust and well-organized network of disability-focused organizations representing every Arab nation. The goal is to foster cohesive, effective, and sustainable cooperation among member networks, elevating the collective impact and reach of disability-related initiatives across the region.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2:
Advocating for the enforcement of the UNCRPD and the fulfilment of the SDG Agenda

In pursuit of this goal, we aim to solidify its position as a prominent advocate for disability rights by engaging in sustained dialogues with policymakers. By enhancing and maintaining systematic discussions concerning the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we seek to be recognized as a leading force in advancing the rights and well-being of disabled individuals.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3:
Raising public awareness among organizations of persons with disabilities, grass-roots movements, and mainstream civil society stakeholders around disability rights and principles of diversity and inclusion

This goal is geared towards expanding public consciousness regarding disability rights and the fundamental concepts of diversity and inclusion. Drawing from its extensive network of partnerships and expertise, we aim to provide a comprehensive source of knowledge, training, and information. These resources will be made accessible to grassroots movements of individuals with disabilities, civil society organizations, and various stakeholders throughout the Arab region. The objective is to foster a more informed and empathetic society, driving positive change in attitudes and practices toward disability rights and inclusion.

AFRPD's OBJECTIVES

  1. Enhance our organizational development
  2. Enhance the organizational development of our members
  3. Enforce of the CRPD and SDG Agenda
  4. Partner with organizations of persons with disabilities, grassroots movements, and other mainstream stakeholders.
  5. Advocate for the enforcement of the UNCRPD and the fulfillment of the SDG Agenda
  6. Raise public awareness around disability rights, principles of diversity, and inclusion; among organizations of persons with disabilities, grass-roots movements, and other mainstream stakeholders.
  7. Engage with regional and sub-regional-based thematic issues for promoting strategies of disability inclusion.
  8. Establish dialogue channels with multilateral organizations like the UN the World Bank, and the IMF

Uniting Arab organizations for disability advocacy.