3 -DISABLED PERSONS, MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF POLICIES, PROGRAMMES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES 4 -UN panel proposes reform of human rights commission 14 -UN MARKS DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR THEIR FULL INCLUSION IN SOCIETY -DISABLED PERSONS, MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF POLICIES, PROGRAMMES THAT AFFECT THEIR LIVES (UNIC)—UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in his message on International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December 2004, said that persons with disabilities are the best experts on how to remove barriers to their participation, and must be included in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes that affect their lives. Full text of his message reads: “This year’s International Day of Disabled Persons focuses on the goal of full and equal participation by persons with disabilities in social life and development, which is a central message of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. “For many years, persons with disabilities tended to be viewed as “objects” of welfare policies. 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. This process is admittedly slow and uneven, but it is taking place in all parts of the world. The motto of the international disability movement, “Nothing About Us Without Us”, encapsulates the shift. “The right to make one’s own choices and to participate in all areas of life is figuring prominently in current efforts to elaborate an international convention on the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Those efforts are making good progress, and the process itself has seen an unprecedented degree of engagement by persons with disabilities and their organizations in international negotiations, bringing their first-hand experience and expertise to bear on disability issues. “Indeed, it has become increasingly clear that persons with disabilities are the best experts on how to remove barriers to their participation, and must be included in the design, implementation and evaluation of policies and programmes that affect their lives. Moreover, no society can claim to be based on justice and equality without persons with disabilities taking decisions as full-fledged members. “On this observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, let us reaffirm our commitment to fundamental changes in our thinking about the place of persons with disabilities in society. And let us pledge to work even harder towards fully inclusive societies.” -UN panel proposes reform of human rights commission A high-level panel appointedby UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has called for a major overhaulof the Geneva-based UN human rights watchdog to make it perform effectively, as part of a proposed sweeping reform of the United Nations. The 53-member Commission on Human Rights is entrusted with promoting respect for human rights globally, fostering international cooperation in human rights, responding to violations in specific countries and assisting countries in building their human rights capacity. "In recent years, the commission's capacity to perform these tasks has been undermined by eroding credibility and professionalism," said the panel of 16 former prominent diplomats in a report to be officially launched on Thursday. The report identified six major threats to humankind in the 21st century, including terrorism, HIV/AIDS and weapons of mass destruction, and put forward 101 proposals to address them, including reforms of various UN organs. "We are concerned that in recent years states have sought membership of the commission not to strengthen human rights but toprotect themselves against criticism or to criticize others," the panel said. "The commission cannot be credible if it is seen to be maintaining double standards in addressing human rights concerns,"it warned. The report listed the UN agency's membership as one of the mostdifficult and sensitive points. "In recent years, the issue of which states are elected to the commission has become a source of heated international tension, with no positive impact on human rights and a negative impact on the work of the commission," it noted. The report recommended that the membership of the commission beexpanded to universal membership and an advisory council or panel be set up to support its work. It also suggested that in the longer term, the Commission on Human Rights, which is currently subsidiary to the Economic and Social Council, be upgraded to a "Human Rights Council." Enditem www.chinaview.cn - -UN MARKS DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR THEIR FULL INCLUSION IN SOCIETY 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. 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