VISION 2020: The Right to Sight is the global initiative for the elimination of avoidable blindness. It was launched in 1999 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB). They are joined by an international membership of non-government organizations (NGOs), professional associations, eye care institutions and corporations.
The VISION 2020 initiative seeks to eliminate the main causes of avoidable blindness in order to give all people in the world the right to sight. For more information visit the Vision 2020 website
Our Committee
John M. Rafferty, Chair
Mr. Rafferty joined CNIB in March 2009 as the organization’s eighth president and CEO. He combines his extensive international business background and keen interest in employment issues and vision loss prevention to help further CNIB’s mission of ensuring Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.
Prior to joining CNIB, Mr. Rafferty served as the chief operating officer of Canpages Inc., an online and print directory company he co-founded in 2006. Born, raised and educated in England, Mr. Rafferty has also held leadership roles with various organizations including British Telecom and Verizon Information Services, where he was posted to the UK, Poland and China, navigating those organizations to success in vastly different business and cultural contexts.