Disability is defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of WHO as "the outcome or result of a complex relationship between an individual's health condition and personal factors, and of the external factors that represent the circumstances in which the individual lives".

According to 2011 World report on disability 15% of the world's population live with some form of disability. About 80% of the world’s population with disabilities live in low-income countries. They experience social and economic hardships and denial of rights.

The lack of consideration for the needs of such a high proportion of the society does not only deprive persons with disabilities of their basic human rights but also deprives their communities of their contribution to the development process.

	Community-based rehabilitation guidelines		Regional framework on community-based rehabilitation [pdf 28kb]
	World report on disability [pdf 324kb]