International Disability Alliance
IDA is a network of global and regional organisations of persons with disabilities that advocates for full and effective implementation of the UN CRPD. IDA facilitates coordination among Disabled Peoples' Organisations (DPOs) in UN processes and provides a unified voice for the international disability rights movement.
About the International Disability Alliance
IDA was formed in 1999 to bring together the major global and regional organisations of persons with disabilities into a coordinated advocacy network focused on the UN human rights system. Its creation recognised that disability rights needed a unified voice in international forums alongside existing human rights advocates.
IDA's members include DPI, the World Blind Union, the World Federation of the Deaf, the World Federation of DeafBlind, Inclusion International (intellectual disabilities), the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People, the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, and regional DPOs. Together, IDA's members represent hundreds of millions of people with disabilities worldwide.
What they do
IDA's primary role is CRPD monitoring, advocacy, and implementation support. IDA works to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities — through their own organisations — are central to the CRPD's implementation and review process.
CRPD advocacy: IDA submits shadow reports and parallel reports to the CRPD Committee, contributes to constructive dialogues with State parties, and advocates for strong interpretations of CRPD rights in the Committee's General Comments and decisions.
UN mainstreaming: IDA advocates for the inclusion of disability in the broader UN human rights system and in the Sustainable Development Goals framework, pushing back against the tendency to treat disability as a specialised issue separate from mainstream human rights.
Capacity building: IDA provides training and support to member organisations and national DPOs to engage effectively with the UN system.
Key programs and resources
- Shadow reports and CRPD submissions
- CRPD toolkit for DPOs engaging with the UN system
- Joint statements on major UN and international policy developments
Who they serve
Primarily the DPO community globally, helping disabled-led organisations engage effectively with international human rights mechanisms.
Why it matters
IDA ensures that international disability rights norms are shaped by people with disabilities, not just by non-disabled professionals, governments, or service providers. For national disability advocates, IDA's guidance on CRPD interpretation and its submissions to the CRPD Committee provide a valuable benchmark and resource.