Our history

Over 25 years of action in support of the most vulnerable

1982 - 1986

The creation of Handicap International and the early years

Cambodian refugee camp, Thailand, 1982
^{© Handicap International}

Handicap International was founded in Thailand in 1982 by two French doctors as a response to landmine injuries suffered by Cambodian people living in refugee camps. The first orthopaedic centres were set up in refugee camps in Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Laos. Simple, locally available equipment was used, enabling Handicap International to provide immediate, effective and practical aid and to train competent local teams to carry on the work. In 1986, Handicap International Belgium was set up, and the organisation began to extend its work to other countries.

1987 - 1991

Fighting against social and economic exclusion

A rehabilitation session in a day centre, Romania, 1990

^{© Ph. Merchez for Handicap International}

Handicap International moved towards a more holistic approach to disability issues. As well as continuing with rehabilitation, the organisation broadened its scope of work by setting up projects to prevent disability, and to facilitate access to education and economic activities at community level. It also began to address mental health issues, as a result of experiences with Romanian orphanages and the war in the Balkans.

1992 - 1995

Ban this "cowardly weapon"

A march for the Incternational Campaign to Ban Landmines, Cambodia,1992

^{© J. Rodsted / ICBL}

Outraged by the horrific effects of landmines, Handicap International created its first mine clearance programmes in Cambodia and Kurdistan and played a key role in establishing the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 1992. A petition was launched and in a very short space of time hundreds of thousands of supporters got involved.

Supporting and strengthening local capacity

Street parade raising awareness about disability, Brasil, 1999

During this period, more links were made with other organisations, at local and international level. Handicap International supported disabled people's organisations campaigning for their rights to be recognised and defended. At the same time Handicap International worked towards the creation of national structures for rehabilitation professionals. Training courses leading to qualifications were set up in Cambodia, Mozambique and West Africa.

1996 - 2003

International recognition

^{© ICBL}

In 1996, Handicap International received the Nansen Refugee Award for its work with refugees and victims of landmines, the most prestigious prize that can be awarded by UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency).

In December 1997, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty was signed. One week later, Handicap International and its ICBL partners were collectively awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of five years of hard campaigning.

A period of expansion

During this period, Handicap International strengthened its network, building on its international experience. More national associations were set up - Switzerland in 1996, Luxembourg in 1997, Germany in 1998, the UK in 1999, and Canada in 2003. The associations share the same aims, and become involved in raising funds and managing overseas activities.

2003 - 2004

Campaigning for the rights of people with disabilities

In the countries where we work, Handicap International supports the drawing up of national laws for people with disabilities to ensure that their rights are respected. As part of that commitment, the organisation took part in the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The fight to ban cluster bombs

Cluster Munitions Coalition march, Dublin

^{© Mette Eliseussen}

Since 2003, Handicap International has been involved in the fight to ban cluster bombs and is a co-founder of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). As part of this coalition, Handicap International campaigns for the complete eradication of these weapons which openly violate international humanitarian law.

2004 - 2005

Emergency and long-term operations

Tsunami emergency response - respiratory physiotherapy, South Asia, 2004

^{© H. Marie / Handicap International}

The large number of crisis situations and natural disasters in the first part of the decade (such as the tsunami and the earthquakes in Pakistan and Iran) led Handicap International to frequently intervene in emergency situations. The organisation works to prevent disabilities from developing and to ensure that there is proper care for people with disabilities, who are often forgotten in emergency relief efforts.

As a result of this experience, Handicap International pooled its skills with Atlas Logistique, creating a disaster relief department in order to reinforce its emergency intervention capacity. Handicap International sees emergency interventions as the first stage in an inclusive reconstruction process which takes into account the needs of people with disabilities.

2006 – 2008

In 2006, Handicap International USA was set up, making a total of eight national associations in the Handicap International network. Our campaigning continued in this period, to ensure that the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty is universally adopted and to ban cluster munitions.

The fight against disabling diseases

^{© C. Smets Luna - Handicap International}

Handicap International became actively involved in international public health issues in order to reduce disabling diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Lymphatic Filariasis,and the Buruli Ulcer. Improving prevention and reducing the number of cases of these disabling diseases is proving to be a new public health challenge.

Disability rights

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was adopted in December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature in March 2007. It reaffirms that all persons with all types of disabilities must enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms and sets out a code of implementation for securing those rights. The convention entered into force on 3rd May 2008.

2009 onwards

A federal structure

The decision was taken for Handicap International to move towards a federal structure, which came into being in the course of 2010. Handicap International continues to work to improve the lives of people with disabilities worldwide.

Cluster munitions banned

Camapigners celebrating after the signing of the Oslo Treaty banning cluster munitions, 2008

In December 2008, 94 governments signed the convention to ban cluster munitions and since then, more countries have signed and ratified. The convention entered into force in August 2010, meaning that areas contaminated by cluster munitions will be cleared, and survivors will receive assistance to rebuild their lives.

Haiti earthquake response

A team providing care to an amputee in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2010

In January 2010, people in Haiti lost everything during a catastrophic earthquake. At least 230,000 are believed dead and 300,000 people have been injured. Handicap International has been working in Haiti since 2008 and was able to respond less than 24 hours after the earthquake. We now have a large team on the ground, providing health care and rehabilitation to the injured, and producing emergency orthopaedic devices for amputees. Handicap International is also involved in distributing emergency aid and setting up temporary shelters for the victims of the disaster.

Recipient of the Hilton Prize

In 2011, Handicap International was awarded the Hilton Humanitarian Prize, in recognition of almost 30 years of humanitarian action. The largest humanitarian award in the world at $1.5 million, the prize is presented annually by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to a humanitarian organisation doing extraordinary work to alleviate human suffering.