Handicap International has been present in the region since 1992 and has shared the suffering of populations victims of civil wars and of a hard economical and social transition.
Demining, landmine victim assistance and rehabilitation projects to improve services for people with disabilities have been our main input in the region.
Since 2001 we have initiated a process of restructuring of our activities and developed a 5 years strategy (2004-2009) aiming to accompany the local stakeholders in the change process toward Equal Opportunities and Full Participation of People With Disabilities.

Our Philosophy. Our philosophy of action is founded on the values of solidarity (mutual aid, brotherhood, justice and impartiality), which cultivate a commitment to dignity and equal opportunity for all.
We follow the five main principles that underlie the International Standards and Rights of persons with disabilities.

Our Vision. We foresee a region integrated within the European Union, where persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in the society.

Our References. Human right instruments, Un standard rules for equalization of opportunities and Independent Living philosophy.

Our Mission. Our mission is to support local stakeholders involved in the change process to promote equal opportunities and participation of people with disabilities and access to European standards.

Our Approach to Disability. Disability cannot be defined simply as the results of a physical, cognitive or sensory impairment. Disability is the result of a complex and dynamic interaction between a numbers of factors. It is therefore important for us to improve the living conditions of those who are in "handicap situations". Handicap International has come to adopt a comprehensive approach towards human development: the "Disability Creation process (DCP)" [1]

Our Role in South East Europe. As an independent non-governmental organization, we support the development of all stakeholders of the civil society and public institutions involved in the change process. We have been present massively at their side during the crises period and we will keep on accompanying them with lighter but appropriate means until the transition is made and the region is integrated into European Union.

Our Objective. We aim at "de-institutionalising" disability issues to enhance the participation and widen opportunities of people with disabilities.
For this, we want:

• The disability Movement empowered and capable to defend Rights of people,
• The State reforms fostering a progressive approach oriented toward participation,
• Disability professionals adopting new approaches and being positive actors in the change

Three programs will strive to achieve, each one, one or several of these results:

1. SHARE-SEE: An empowerment of disabled representatives in order to raise advocacy capacities for better governance on disability issues,
2. A support to the change of the care system for people with disability,
3. The Disability Monitor Initiative: The development of a regional advocacy initiative based on an information system that will influence and monitor the evolution of disability issues.

Throughout the implementation of our programs for the next five years, we will maintain our four thematic crosscutting issues in all of our initiatives:

• Family and handicap - understanding what support and tools families need who have members with disabilities,
• Governance and handicap - facilitating full participation for people with disabilities within decision making,
• The Cost of community services - assessing the cost of deinstitutionalisation,
• Gender and disability - measuring the extent of the two fold discrimination faced by women with disabilities and acting against this situation.
  

[1] Canadian society on the International Classification of Impairments, Disability and Handicap, 1996. This approach displays the interaction between personal factors (impairment and capabilities), environmental factors (obstacles and facilitators) and individual lifestyle factors, while avoiding stigmas. Handicap International strongly believes that "handicap situations" can be modified and social participation improved by the reduction of impairments (health care), the development of the capabilities (functional rehabilitation, education), as well as by the adaptation of the environment (accessibility, legal framework, awareness, development of services.).