Thoughts on Hubert and Disability Rights

Hubert's model (2007) resonates with the disability rights movement and the most recent global campaign in particular. Like many of Hubert's more successful cases, early stages of the campaign were characterized by minimal cooperation by nations as a whole. However, many individuals in positions of national or international power were important. I've already mentioned Mr. Mansur R. Kikhia of Libya (see post below). In addition, Rehabilitation International (RI) President O’Reilly of Ireland presented the Charter for the Third Millenium to fellow countrywoman Mary Robinson, then the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, Ambassador Anderson (Groce 2002).

Hubert (2007) mentions close collaboration between civil society and governments is important for mobilizing political will and monitoring implementation. I'm still looking into this and will probably be focusing on RI, Disabled Peoples International (DPI), and the International Disability Alliance (IDA). IDA is the “main international disability organizations having consultative status with the U.N” (Groce 2002, 95). Either RI or the IDA has a big monitoring body for disability rights around the world, I don't remember which off-hand.


Groce, N. (2002). From charity to disability rights: global initiatives of Rehabilitation International, 1922-2002. New York: International Rehabilitation Foundation, Henry H. Kessler Foundation (New Jersey).

Hubert, D. (2007). Humanitarian advocacy campaigns: lessons on government civil-society collaboration. In Joint Action for Prevention: Civil Society and Government Cooperation on Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding (pp. 79-86). Published by Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.