Theme: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all”
More than 1 billion people or 15% of the world population are living with disabilities - the world’s largest and most disadvantaged group - most of which, are in developing countries!
Around the world, persons with disabilities face physical, social,
economic and attitudinal barriers that exclude them from participating
fully and effectively as equal members of society. They are
disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest, and lack equal
access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare
and social and legal support systems, as well as have a higher rate of
mortality. In spite of this situation, disability has remained largely
invisible in the mainstream development agenda and its processes.
Earlier, the international disability movement achieved an
extraordinary advance in 2006, with the adoption of the Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Convention follows decades
of work by the United Nations to change attitudes and approaches to
disability that would ensure the full equality and participaton of
persons with disabilities in society. The Convention is intended as a
human rights instrument with an explicit, development dimension.
However, to realize equality and participation for persons with
disabilities, they must be included in all development processes and,
now more importantly, in the new emerging post-2015 development
framework.
The UN General Assembly emphasizes that the genuine achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed
development goals, requires the inclusion and integration of the
rights, and well-being, as well as the perspective of persons with
disabilities in development efforts at national, regional and
international levels.
Toward this end, in 2011, the Assembly decided to convene a one-day
high-level meeting on disability and development (HLMDD) at the level of
Heads of State and Government, under the theme: “The way forward: a
disability inclusive development agenda towards 2015 and beyond”. The
HLMDD will present a historical opportunity to mainstream disability in
the global agenda towards a post -2015 development framework that would
translate the international commitment for a disability-inclusive
society into concrete action and real changes on the ground in the lives
of persons with disabilities.
The timing of the HLMDD to be held on 23 September 2013 is strategic;
taking place five years after the UN Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities entered into force, two years after release of
the World Report on Disability and two years away from 2015 -- the
target date for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) -- and thereafter, the commencement of the post-2015 agenda and
new development priorities.
This outcome of the HLMDD will take shape in a concise,
action-oriented outcome document that will provide policy guidance and
help strengthen global efforts to ensure accessibility for and inclusion
of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and
development.
It’s time to break barriers and open doors: to realize an inclusive society for all!
By 3 December 2013, the International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, we will have the outcome document of the HLMDD, which
would provide an blueprint for action and ideal platform to launch
global efforts to help realize the full and equal participation of
persons with disabilities in society and shape the future of development
for all!
What you can do to observe IDPD 2013
Include: Observance of the Day provides
opportunities for participation by all stakeholders – Governments, the
UN system, civil society and organizations of persons with disabilities –
to focus on issues related to the inclusion of persons with
disabilities in development, both as beneficiaries and agents.
Organize: Hold forums, public discussions and
information campaigns to help find innovative ways and means by which
persons with disabilities and their families can be further integrated
into their societies and development plans.
Celebrate: Plan and organize performances everywhere
to showcase - and celebrate - the contributions made by persons with
disabilities as agents of change and development in the communities in
which they live.
Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical
and concrete action to include disability in all aspects of development,
as well as to further the participation of persons with disabilities in
social life and development on the basis of equality. Highlight
progress and obstacles in implementing disability-sensitive policies, as
well as promote public awareness to break barriers and open doors: for
an inclusive society for all.
Source : United Nations
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