3 December 2007 - International Day of Disabled Persons

 

Following the conclusion of the UN Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), the UN General Assembly proclaimed 3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons (A/RES/47/3). Every year’s commemoration has a particular theme. The theme for 2007 is Decent work for persons with disabilities. Commemorating this special day is a chance to raise greater awareness of the human rights (social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights) of persons with disabilities; to organize events focusing on disability issues; and to take practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities. For more information about the International Day of Disabled Persons, click here.

This year – 2007 – marks the first anniversary of the adoption by the General Assembly of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, adopted on 13 December 2006 (A/RES/61/106). This first human rights treaty of the 21st Century was negotiated with the active and constructive participation of NGOs. As the title already indicates, the convention speaks throughout of “persons with disabilities” instead of “disabled persons,” thus emphasizing that persons with disabilities are first of all “persons,” people who have the characteristic of having a disability. As of 29 October 2007, 118 countries had signed the treaty but only seven had also ratified it. The treaty needs 20 ratifications in order to enter into force. For more information about this new treaty, see the UN website.

 

Cecile Meijer rscj
NGO Office