Ana Lucia Arellano, 2018-2020
Ana Lucía Arellano Barba is originally from Quito, Ecuador, is a Latin American human rights activist and advocate for the rights of Persons with Disabilities for almost 23 years, inspired by her son José Miguel, a self advocate youth with down syndrome. Currently, Ms. Arellano is also the President of the Latin American Network of Non-Governmental Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and their Families (RIADIS), an umbrella organization from the global south that represents 56 national DPOs in 19 countries in the Latin American and the Caribbean Region, a post she has held since november 2012. She represents the diverse voice of civil society and DPOs at the national, regional and global level.