Special Olympics and UNICEF formalized an international partnership in 2007 with the goal of providing greater inclusion of children with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, into mainstream society, while providing communities worldwide the opportunity to learn and benefit from inclusion and acceptance of differences.
UNICEF is a driving force that helps build a world where the rights of every child are realized.
The partnership was initiated through country-specific collaborative plans between national Special Olympics Programs and UNICEF country offices. This design was used to ensure that all strategies employed were fully aligned with national organizational priorities and national development plans. The pilot countries selected were: Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Jamaica, Panama, Romania, and Uzbekistan. The number of countries involved will increase in coming years as the partnership grows and expands.
The Special Olympics – UNICEF global partnership is providing increased services and advocacy to children with intellectual disabilities and their families.