International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3 December

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

2008 Theme: " Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:

Dignity and justice for all of us " .

Programme of the International Day at United Nations Headquarters,

New York

Dignity and justice for all of us is the theme of this year's

International Day for Persons with Disabilities, as well as for the

60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Dignity and justice for all persons are established universal

principles. Since its inception, the United Nations has recognized

that the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all

members of the human family are the foundations of freedom, justice

and peace in the world. These principles, along with equality and non-

discrimination, have guided the work of the United Nations for the

past 60 years and are enshrined in various instruments such as the UN

Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as in

treaties such as the International Covenants on Human Rights, and the

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These

instruments are among those which make up the international human

rights framework, are complementary and reaffirm that all human

rights are universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and

mutually reinforcing.

2008 is a significant year in the international human rights movement

given the entry into force on 3 May of the Convention on the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, legally

binding instruments which set out the legal obligations of States to

promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities, as well

as the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

(UDHR). Article 25 of the UDHR provides that each person has " the

right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability,

widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances

beyond his control " . Several articles in the Convention on the Rights

of Persons with Disabilities expound on this right to security,

including article 10 on right to life and article 14 on liberty and

security of person. Article 28 is more specific in that it asks that

States Parties take steps to safeguard and promote that realization

of the right to an adequate standard of living and social protection,

including ensuring " access by persons with disabilities and their

families living in situations of poverty to assistance from the State

with disability-related expenses, including adequate training,

counselling, financial assistance and respite care " . These

instruments mark a clear reaffirmation that persons with disabilities

have the right to full and equal enjoyment of their human rights.

They also mark a clear reaffirmation of the principles of `dignity

and justice for all of us'.

Around 10 per cent of the world's population, or 650 million people,

live with disabilities. The Convention promotes and protects the

human rights of persons with disabilities in civil, cultural,

economic, political, and social life. However, all over the world,

persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their

participation in society and are often forced to live on the margins

of society. They are routinely denied basic rights such as to equal

recognition before the law and legal capacity, freedom of expression

and opinion, and the right to participate in political and public

life, such as voting. Many persons with disabilities are forced into

institutions, a direct breach of the rights to freedom of movement

and to live in the community.

Eighty per cent of persons with disabilities – more than 400 million

people – live in poor countries and there is a strong link between

disability and poverty. For example, the statistics on employment for

persons with disabilities are staggering. In developing countries, 80

per cent to 90 per cent of persons with disabilities of working age

unemployed and in industrialized countries it is estimated to be

between 50 per cent and 70 per cent. The rights to education and

health are also routinely denied. Ninety per cent of children with

disabilities in developing countries do not attend school, says

UNESCO.

Approximately 20 million women acquire disabilities as a result of

complications during pregnancy or childbirth. This continued

marginalization against persons with disabilities highlights the need

for all States to sign, ratify and implement the Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

The United Nations and the global community must ensure that all its

work is inclusive of persons with disabilities. The Millennium

Development Goals will not be achieved if persons with disabilities

are not included. Efforts to achieve the MDGs and implement the

Convention are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, as well

during the year-long celebration of the 60th anniversary of the

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us use " dignity and

justice for all of us " as a rallying call, as these principles are

far from being realized for everyone. Dignity and justice are

embodied in the civil, cultural, economic, political, and social

rights promoted by the Convention. Therefore, the International Day

of Persons with Disabilities is a time to make a renewed commitment

to the ratification and full implementation of the Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol.

One of the fundamental obligations contained in the Convention is

that national law should guarantee the enjoyment of the rights

enumerated in the Convention. States Parties should thus consider the

best ways of giving effect to the rights guaranteed by the Convention

in domestic law. Implementing legislation should include the terms of

the Convention or a specific reference to them, in order to indicate

clearly that the laws should be interpreted in accordance with the

letter and spirit of the Convention.

Legislation alone will not ensure that persons with disabilities can

enjoy their human rights. States will need to formulate effective

policies and programmes that will transform the provisions of the

Convention into practices that will have a real impact on the lives

of persons with disabilities. For persons with disabilities, as for

all persons, the denial of one right can lead to the denial of other

rights and opportunities throughout their lives.

Article 33 explains that States must set up national focal points

governments in order to monitor implementation of the Convention's

precepts. States must also set up independent monitoring mechanisms,

which usually take the form of an independent national human rights

institution.

The full participation of civil society, in particular persons with

disabilities and their representative organizations, is essential in

the national monitoring and implementation process. International

monitoring is achieved via the Committee on the Rights of Persons

with Disabilities and the Conference of States Parties. The first

meeting of the Conference of States Parties was held on 31 October

and 3 November 2008.

This International Day for Persons with Disabilities is a time to

make a renewed commitment to these principles of dignity and justice

and to ensure implementation of the Convention on the Rights of

Persons with Disabilities.

All human beings are not only entitled to rights, but also have the

responsibility of making universal human rights a reality for all of

us.

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with

Disabilities, 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of

disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and

well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase

awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with

disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and

cultural life. The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and

equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by

persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of

Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by General Assembly in

1982. The official title of the Day was changed from International

Day of Disabled Persons to International Day of Persons with

Disabilities by General Assembly resolution 62/127 on 18 December

2007.

How the Day may be observed

Involve: Observance of the Day provides opportunities for

participation by all interested communities - governmental, non-

governmental and the private sector - to focus upon catalytic and

innovative measures to further implement international norms and

standards related to persons with disabilities. Schools, universities

and similar institutions can make particular contributions with

regard to promoting greater interest and awareness among interested

parties of the social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights

of persons with disabilities.

Organize: Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns

in support of the Day focusing on disability issues and trends and

ways and means by which persons with disabilities and their families

are pursuing independent life styles, sustainable livelihoods and

financial security.

Celebrate: Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase -

and celebrate - the contributions by persons with disabilities to the

societies in which they live and convene exchanges and dialogues

focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of

persons with disabilities.

Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical action to further

implement international norms and standards concerning persons with

disabilities and to further their participation in social life and

development on the basis of equality. The media have especially

important contributions to make in support of the observance of the

Day - and throughout the year - regarding appropriate presentation of

progress and obstacles implementing disability-sensitive policies,

programmes and projects and to promote public awareness of the

contributions by persons with disabilities.

For more information, please contact:

Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Division for Social Policy and Development

United Nations Headquarters

Two United Nations Plaza, 13th Floor

New York, N.Y. 10017

Fax: +1 (212) 963-3062

Email: enable@...