UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
LIMITED
A/C.3/48/L.4
1 October 1993
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Forty-eighth session
THIRD COMMITTEE
Agenda item 109
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE
WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH, AGEING, DISABLED
PERSONS AND THE FAMILY
International Day of Disabled Persons
Note by the Secretariat
By its resolution 1993/18 of 27 July 1993, the Economic and Social Council
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a draft resolution entitled
"International Day of Disabled Persons". The text of the draft resolution is
reproduced below.
"International Day of Disabled Persons
"The General Assembly,
"Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolution 37/52 of
3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons, 1/ and resolution 37/53 of 3 December 1982, in
which, inter alia, it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the United Nations
Decade of Disabled Persons as a long-term plan of action,
"Recalling also its request to the Secretary-General, made in its
resolution 45/91 of 14 December 1990, to shift the focus of the United
Nations programme on disability from awareness-raising to action, with the
aim of achieving a society for all by the year 2010,
"Recalling further its resolution 47/3 of 14 October 1992 proclaiming
3 December as the International Day of Disabled Persons,
__________
1/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 IV).
93-53349 (E) 121093 /...
A/C.3/48/L.4
English
Page 2
"Noting that, despite an appreciable increase in activities designed
to enhance public awareness of the needs and circumstances of people with
disabilities and of related issues, there continues to be a need for
sustained efforts to overcome physical and social barriers to the full
equality and participation of disabled persons,
"Aware of the need for more vigorous and broader action and measures
at all levels to fulfil the objectives of the Decade and the World
Programme of Action,
"Bearing in mind that the purpose of the World Programme of Action is
to promote effective measures for the prevention of disability, for
rehabilitation and the realization of the goals of full participation of
disabled persons in social life and development and of equality, which
means opportunities equal to those of the entire population and an equal
share in the improvement in living conditions resulting from social and
economic development,
"1. Takes note with satisfaction of the number of Member States that
celebrated the first International Day of Disabled Persons on
3 December 1992;
"2. Appeals to all Governments to observe the International Day of
Disabled Persons, using this opportunity to take the lead in awakening the
consciousness of populations regarding the gains to be derived by
individuals and society from the integration of disabled persons in every
area of social, economic and political life;
"3. Reiterates the need to involve disabled persons and their
organizations in decisions on all matters of concern to them, including the
celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons;
"4. Invites Member States to consider a way of linking, each year,
the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons with important
United Nations events such as the World Conference on Human Rights, held at
Vienna from 14 to 25 June 1993, the International Year of the Family, to be
observed in 1994, the International Conference on Population and
Development, to be held at Cairo from 5 to 13 September 1994, the World
Summit for Social Development, to be held at Copenhagen in 1995, and the
Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and
Peace, to be held at Beijing from 4 to 15 September 1995;
"5. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission for
Social Development, at its thirty-fourth session, on measures taken by
Member States to observe the International Day of Disabled Persons."
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