On December 2nd, the United Nations (UN) celebrated the 19th annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a tradition started by the General Assembly in 1992. The theme of this year’s event was: Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development.
The day included a discussion of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a human rights treaty establishing international legal standards for governments and international governmental organizations to promote equality in the areas of health, education, international cooperation, gender equality and standard of living.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said in a statement, “This treaty is our international ban on discrimination. It is our legally binding protection of the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities. And it is our promise to promote respect for their inherent dignity. The Convention offered hope to millions of people around the world affected by disabilities. Hope for inclusion. Hope for opportunities. Hope for equality.”
“The Convention is also a tool for development. Our world today is mired in crisis — unemployment, energy scarcity, climate change, rising food prices, global financial instability. All of these problems tend to hit people with disabilities especially hard,” Migiro continued.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement, “Persons with disabilities experience higher rates of poverty and deprivation and are twice as likely to lack health care. Employment rates of persons with disabilities in some countries are as low as one third of that of the overall population. This multi-dimensional exclusion represents a huge cost, not only to persons with disabilities but to society as a whole. This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that development can only be sustainable when it is equitable, inclusive and accessible for all.”
The National Council on Disability released a statement saying, "Why is meaningful involvement by persons with disabilities in international development important? The US invests billions of dollars into foreign assistance programs that foster international diplomacy and development annually, aimed at improving the quality of life for people around the world. These programs develop economies, promote democracy and governance, provide humanitarian assistance, build new infrastructure, and advance and protect human rights.”
The statement continues, “Given that 15% of the world population is made up of people with disabilities, and growing, the US cannot effectively accomplish the goals of foreign assistance programs unless it ensures programs are accessible to and inclusive of people with disabilities.”
The UN events included two interactive panel discussions on the themes: Towards inclusive development: improving data and statistics on disability, and Mainstreaming disability in the global development agenda: experience in other development issues. There was a performance by the New York Institute for Special Education, a film festival and a forum on aid effectiveness.
This article was published in the January 2012 issue of Able News.
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