Since 2002, CBM has had Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). The United Nations (UN) Council establishes consultative relations with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to achieve their involvement and to draw upon their special expertise or experience.

Find more information about this and other CBM collaborations on the following pages.

UN ECOSOC Website

CBM has also been officially recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an organisation specializing in preventing and curing blindness. CBM has a close working relationship with the WHO in the fields of visual and hearing impairments as well as in mental health. For more on CBM's collaborations and joint initiatives, see the following pages.

WHO Website

Find the latest WHO World Health Report on Primary Health Care at:

WHO World Health Report

Download the latest WHO Violence, Injuries and Disability Biennial Report by clicking on the following link:

WHO Violence, Injury and Disability Report

CBM also works closely with the International Disability and Development Consortium, a leading Disabled Persons' Organisation with close links to the United Nations and the European Union. To find out more about CBM's partnership with the IDDC, download a copy of the IDDC's Activity Report 2007-8 by clicking on the right-hand link to download.

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CBM is involved with several organisations on an international level. Working with the WHO, CBM supportd the initiation of two international campaigns: VISION 2020 and WWHearing.

• As a member of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and in cooperation with WHO, CBM launched "VISION 2020: The Right to Sight". The goal of VISION 2020 is to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
• WWHearing World Wide Hearing Care for Developing Countries is an initiative created in 2003 to promote better hearing through the provision of hearing aids and services.

Further information on these and other campaigns: VISION 2020 and WWHearing
Read more: CBM and the Make Development Inclusive campaign

Hearing Impairment is common throughout the world. It is estimated that 50 per cent of all Deafness and hearing impairment is preventable, but prevention is often given a low priority in National Health development agenda. CBM was one of the founder and supporting organisations of the Society for Sound Hearing, which aims for the development of better ear care services worldwide. The Society aims for the prevention of avoidable deafness through initiatives which advocate for the initiatiation of National Councils for the prevention of Deafness and hearing impairment. Cooperation among its stakeholders, including governmental focal persons, professionals, Deaf persons', bilateral and multilateral non-governmental organisations and the private sector with countries raises awareness in the SE Asian region on all aspects of Deafness prevention and ear care.

'Now more than ever' is a strategic campaign by CBM designed to highlight the additional financial burden that the economic crisis will place on the poorest of the poor: poor families with disabilities.

The objective of the campaign is to share with CBM donors and other stakeholders the concrete impact that the worldwide economic crisis has on persons and families with disabilities (PwDs) living in the poorest parts of the world.

The rationale for taking action is that due to the economic crisis, CBM cannot carry on “business as usual” as if nothing has happened, but must ensure it helps, with its partners, to minimise the impact of the economic crisis on PwDs and to maximise opportunities for an inclusive future for PwDs.

Campaign content will be based on compelling "live" stories from the field highlighting the “life or death” impact of the economic crisis on PwDs, and follow-up stories showing was achieved/ what positive impact was reached) as reports to donors.

The campaign is planned to run from April 2009 until latest December 2009.