Organization
Bolivian Confederation of Persons with Disabilities(COBOPDI)
COBOPDI is Bolivia's primary cross-disability umbrella confederation, founded in 1989, comprising nine departmental federations and national specialised organisations with 20,000–25,000 active members. It drove key disability legislation including Law 1678 (1995) and remains the principal DPO body in Bolivia.
About
COBOPDI (Confederación de Personas con Discapacidad de Bolivia) was founded on 8 October 1989 in Viacha, La Paz Department. It is the primary national umbrella confederation for persons with disabilities in Bolivia, grouping together nine departmental federations and national institutes and organisations dedicated to rehabilitation, habilitation, and social inclusion.
What They Do
COBOPDI was instrumental in securing the passage of Law 1678 on Persons with Disabilities (15 November 1995) and its implementing Supreme Decree 24807 — foundational legal instruments for disability rights in Bolivia. It has organised major national actions, including the Wheelchair Caravan of Integration, to claim rights and press for preferential treatment legislation. The confederation coordinates national strategy among its member federations and represents Bolivia's disability community in regional forums.
Who They Serve
COBOPDI serves persons with all types of disabilities across Bolivia's nine departments, with between 20,000 and 25,000 members, of whom 65% are active. It focuses particularly on persons with physical disabilities and those in rural and peri-urban areas who face compound barriers of poverty, geographic isolation, and lack of adaptive infrastructure.
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