PURPOSE: The celebration of the 3 December as International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The Day 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. Member States, civil society organizations and the private sector are welcome to organize their own events to celebrate the International Day to promote the rights and perspectives of persons with disabilities around the world.
FORUM: ”Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.“ International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024. The leadership of persons with disabilities is epitomised by the global disability rights movement’s slogan “nothing about us without us”. It connotes the basic requirements of participation, representation and inclusion and calls for persons with disabilities to actively shape the conditions of their lives. One of the priorities of the global disability agenda is to advance the agency and leadership of persons with disabilities. In the past decades, persons with disabilities and organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) have already championed for the changes in their communities, and have been leading many of the community-led initiatives not only to advance their own rights, and wellbeing but also promoting inclusive development for instance enabling universal access to basic services by all; they have done so by taking both targeted and mainstreaming approaches to disability inclusion through, among others, consultation, data collection and analysis, and support with advocacy and accountability efforts.
Global leadership: Breakthroughs achieved.
The global leadership of persons with disabilities in multi-lateral and intergovernmental processes and frameworks to achieve human rights, peace and development, has led to such breakthrough achievements as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and UNSC Resolution 2475. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) stands as a landmark treaty incorporating development objectives for persons with disabilities in the international human rights frameworks. The drafting process of the CRPD prominently featured extensive leadership and engagement of the global disability community, along with the mobilization of broad networks of civil society, working side-by-side with the intergovernmental community. This process is widely recognized as one of the most significant in the realm of human rights treaties, with individuals with disabilities worldwide, including from the Global South, assuming pivotal leadership roles. Building upon the United Nations’ longstanding commitment to inclusive society and development and the normative force of the CRPD, the outcomes of the 2015 Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and its follow ups have underscored the leadership of persons with disabilities as a central issue in crisis management. Most recently, bringing this prominent leadership of persons with disabilities to the international humanitarian community, United Nations Security Council Resolution 2475 represents a momentous milestone as the first instance in which the Security Council has specifically addressed the situation and protection of individuals with disabilities in peace and security. This year, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Inclusive development for and with persons with disabilities”, calling upon Member States, the UN system and other partners to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the CRPD, through addressing the disability-inclusive response to the challenges facing the world while mainstreaming the rights, well-being and perspectives of persons with disabilities. The resolution specifically focuses on promoting the participation and perspectives of persons with disabilities and continues to advance disability inclusion across the pillars of the UN’s work, with key components to render the disability inclusion a central issue in the global agenda.
Opening the corridors of power: opportunities for leadership of persons with disabilities.
The observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 (IDPD 2024) takes place against the backdrop of pivotal global developments, most recently the Summit for the Future. The Pact for the Future, alongside the Global Digital Compact and the Declaration for Future Generations, aim to reinvigorate the multilateral system, renew commitments under the 2030 Agenda and transform global governance to better meet the challenges of today to safeguard a resilient future. These frameworks are aligned with inclusive and sustainable development goals and present opportunities to strengthen disability rights. Notably, there are several cross-cutting areas where concrete actions Member States have committed to, promoting the inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities, including in the areas of armed conflict; science, technology and innovation; young people and social inclusion and integration; youth participation; and accessibility and disability inclusion within the UN system. Likewise, the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in 2025 offers another key moment to address gaps and recommit to the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action and its implementation, as well as give momentum towards the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Looking forward to 2025, the observance of the IDPD 2024 presents an opportunity to amplify the role of persons with disabilities in reinforcing the social pillar of sustainable development and underscoring that economic growth, while essential, is not sufficient on its own to address the deep-rooted and structural inequalities that persist. These key global Summits will complement one another in providing a continuous roadmap toward disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development. By emphasising this complementarity, the IDPD 2024 aims to underscore the importance of leveraging the leadership of persons with disabilities to ensure disability-inclusive and sustainable peace and development for all. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #EveryoneIncluded, #3December, #DisabilityInclusionStrategy, #DisabilityDay, #IDPD on social medias.
EVENTS: On December 3rd, a high level event starting at 10:00am (EST) at the Conference Room 6 in the UN Headquarters, New York will mark the Commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024. Get the agenda programme and Watch the livestream!
PUBLICATIONS: The African Journal of Disability(AJOD) features a dedicated themed collection focusing on 'Evidence informed action in promoting disability inclusion in Africa' and highlighting disability research. The journal introduce and discuss issues and experiences relating to and supporting the act of better understanding the interfaces between disability, poverty and practices of exclusion and marginalisation. Its articles yield new insight into established human development practices, evaluate new educational techniques and disability research, examine current cultural and social discrimination, and bring serious critical analysis to bear on problems shared across the African continent. Emphasis is on all aspects of disability particularity in the developing African context. This includes, amongst others:
disability studies as an emerging field of public health enquiry
rehabilitation, including vocational and community-based rehabilitation
community development and medical issues related to disability and poverty
disability-related stigma and discrimination
inclusive education
legal, policy, human rights and advocacy issues related to disability
the role of arts and media in relation to disability
disability as part of global Sustainable Development Goals transformation agendas
disability and postcolonial issues
globalisation and cultural change in relation to disability
environmental and climate-related issues linked to disability
disability, diversity and intersections of identity
disability and the promotion of human development.
Read the AJOD Volume 13 (Edition 2024)!
STATEMENTS: Read the Statement of the United Nations Secretary-General on the International Day of the Persons with disabilities 2024; December 3rd. and the Statement of the UNDP Administrator on the International Day of the Persons with disabilities 2024; December 2nd.
PODCASTS: Disability is a development priority because of its higher prevalence in lower-income countries and because disability and poverty reinforce and perpetuate one another. Listen to the audio-podasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: This year, the campaign will focus on ”Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.“. inclusiveness and equality for persons with disabilities is a must, for a world without barriers. Take action for the Sustainable Development Goals. Get the campaign materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA); the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Disability and Accessibility, the United Nations Enable, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development , the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the Human Rights Council and the UN Voluntary Fund on Disability.
With the participation of Civil Society Organizations, the public and private sectors, International and Non-Governmental Organizations, CommunityHealth based organizations, the Mental health sectors, researchers and academics.
Raise awareness on the basic needs of disabled people
Encourage better understanding of disability issues.
Strengthen national legislation and policies on health care in line with the Convention
Identify and eliminate barriers to accessibility in health-care facilities
Improve health-care coverage and affordability for persons with disabilities
Train health-care personnel on disability inclusion and improve service delivery for persons with disabilities
Empower persons with disabilities to take control over their own health-care decisions
Prohibit discriminatory practices in health insurance and promote health insurance coverage for assistive products and rehabilitation services
Monitor, evaluate and strengthen health systems to include and deliver for persons with disabilities
The United Nations General Assembly haveestablished the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by the resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. People with disabilities are at much higher risk of violence. Children with disabilities are almost four times more likely to experience violence than non-disabled children. Adults with some form or disability are 1.5 times more likely to be a victim of violence than those without a disability. Adults with mental health conditions are at nearly four times the risk of experiencing violence. Factors which place people with disabilities at higher risk of violence include stigma, discrimination, and ignorance about disability, as well as a lack of social support for those who care for them. Disability-inclusive development is an essential condition for a sustainable future. In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, pledging to leave no one behind in the global efforts to realize the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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