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From: UN News Service [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 11:01
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Subject: UN MARKS DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR THEIR FULL
INCLUSION IN SOCIETY



UN MARKS DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR THEIR FULL INCLUSION IN
SOCIETY New York, Dec  3 2004 11:00AM From New York to Bangkok, from
Geneva to Kabul, the United Nations today marked the
<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/note5907.doc.htm">International
Day of Disabled Persons, with Secretary-General Kofi Annan calling on
the global community to work even harder for fully inclusive societies.

“Today, as a result of a dramatic shift in perspective that has been
taking place over the past two decades, persons with disabilities have
started to be viewed as people who must enjoy the full spectrum of
civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights,” he said in a
commemorative message.

“No society can claim to be based on justice and equality without
persons with disabilities taking decisions as full-fledged members,” he
added.

The 2004 observance of the Day, first held in 1992, focuses on the
involvement of persons with disabilities in the planning of strategies
and policies that affect their lives.

At UN Headquarters in New York the Day featured the showing of three
short documentaries by award-winning filmmaker Victor Pineda – “In Cuba
Disabled,” on the lives of people with disabilities in the developing
world; “Broken Balkans,” which looks at life with disabilities in the
former Yugoslavia; and “A World Enabled,” featuring testimonies of
delegates drafting the first-ever UN convention on the rights of persons
with disabilities.

“The observance of the Day is an opportunity to foster changes in
attitudes towards persons with disabilities and eliminate barriers to
their participation in all aspects of life”, Johan Schölvinck of the UN
Department of Economic and Social Affairs said.

“The involvement of persons with disabilities in elaborating the
convention on their own rights is an excellent example of how the
principle of full participation can be put into practice.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a proclamation recognizing
the Day, declaring: “This important event fosters an understanding of
disability issues as it mobilizes support for efforts to promote the
dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities.”

Earlier this year, the UN Department of Public Information identified
efforts to draft a
<"http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/story.asp?storyID=1000">treaty on
the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities as one of
<"http://www.un.org/events/tenstories/">ten stories the world should
hear more about.

In Geneva today, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour
called for the adoption of that proposed convention. “For far too long,
persons with disabilities have been denied equal access to basic rights
and fundamental freedoms, be they health care, employment, education,
the vote or participation in cultural activities.”

On the other side of the world in Bangkok, Thailand, the UN Economic and
Social Commission for the Asia Pacific Region marked the day with an
exhibition, a forum of community members and the screening of
documentaries.

And in Kabul, Afghanistan, the UN Children’s Fund
<"http://www.unicef.org/media/media_24422.html">(UNICEF) presented a
report identifying some of the key difficulties facing people with
disabilities as they strive to play a role in reconstruction efforts,
including the continuing stigma associated with disabilities in Afghan
society.

“We probably see examples of disability in Afghanistan every day, but
few of us fully appreciate the many challenges that disabled people face
in society,” UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan Bernt Aasen said. “It
is essential that a new debate begins, today, on how opportunities can
be created for people with disabilities to play a fulfilling role in the
rebuilding of their nation.”

The
<"http://www.unicef.org/media/files/PreliminaryfindingsAfghanistandisabi
lityreport.pdf">report calls for public information campaigns to present
the positive contributions that can be made by disabled people; improved
knowledge about causes of disabilities, and how people with disabilities
should be cared for; and advocacy by key influencers such as the media,
religious leaders and health workers.

It also advocates education about disabilities in schools, improved
health services for people with disabilities and access to public
buildings, and incentive schemes to encourage employers to recruit
people with disabilities.
 2004-12-03 00:00:00.000

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