UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations
A/C.3/54/L.9
General Assembly Distr.: Limited
8 October 1999
Original: English
Fifty-fourth session
Third Committee
Agenda item 106
Social development, including questions relating to the world social
situation and to youth, ageing, disabled persons and the family
Bangladesh, Canada, Japan,Monaco and the Philippines:
draft resolution
Implementation of theWorld Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons: towards a society for all in the
twenty-first century
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1
the International Covenants on Human Rights,2 the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women3 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 4
Recalling its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World
Programme ofAction concerning Disabled Persons,5 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which
it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities, 49/153 of 23 December 1994, 50/144 of 21 December 1995 and 52/82 of 12
December 1997,
Reaffirming the outcome of theWorld Conference on Human Rights6 and its five-year
review, the International Conference on Population and Development7 and its five-year review,
Resolution 217 A 1 (III).
2 Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
3 Resolution 34/180, annex.
4 Resolution 44/25, annex.
5 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (iv).
6 A/CONF.157/24.
7 Report of the International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 5-13 September
1994 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.95.XIII.18).
99-29346 (E) 111099
A/C.3/54/L.9
2
theWorld Summit for Social Development,8the Fourth World Conference on Women9and
the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II)10 as they pertain to the
promotion of the rights and well-being of disabled persons,
Also recalling Economic and Social Council resolutions 1997/19 of 21 July 1997 on
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, 1997/20 of 21 July 1997 on
children with disabilities and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/31 of 17 April
1998 on the human rights of persons with disabilities,
Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies to promote
the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in economic, social, cultural
and political life, on the basis of equality, to achieve a “society for all”,
Concerned, however, that improvement of disability awareness and sensitivity to
disability issues have not been significant enough to impact the quality of life of persons with
disabilities worldwide,
Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive policies,
programme planning and evaluation and the need for further development of practical
statistical methodology for data collection and compilation on populations with disabilities,
Realizing that information technology provides new possibilities for improving
accessibility for disabled persons and for facilitating their full participation and equality, and
welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations to promote information technology as a means
of achieving the universal goal of a “society for all”,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the
implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and
welcomes the initiatives of Governments, the United Nations system and non-governmental
organizations for the further equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with
disabilities;
2. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector,
as appropriate, to take concrete measures for the further equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities by focusing on accessibility, social services and safety nets, and
training and employment in the design and implementation of strategies, policies and
programmes to promote a more inclusive society;
3. Urges Governments to cooperate with the United Nations Statistics Division in
the continued development of global statistics and indicators on disability, and encourages
themto avail themselves of the technical assistance of the Division to build national capacities
for national data collection systems, as needed;
4. Encourages Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental
organizations to engage in public information campaigns, by, with and for persons with
disabilities, with a view to combating and overcoming discrimination against persons with
disabilities and to further their full and effective participation in society;
5. Urges relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, including
all human rights treaty bodies, the regional commissions and intergovernmental and nonA/
Report of the World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 6-12 March 1995 (Unite8 d
Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.8).
9 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13.
10 Report of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), Istanbul, 3-14 June
1996 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.IV.6).
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governmental organizations and institutions, to work closely with the United Nations
programme on disabled persons in the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities
by sharing experiences, findings and recommendations on persons with disabilities;
6. Further urges Governments and the United Nations system to give special
attention to the rights, needs, and welfare of children with disabilities and their families in
the development of policies and programmes;
7. Encourages Governments, concerned non-governmental organizations and the
private sector to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability with a view
to fully implementing theWorld Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to support
activities to build national capacities, with emphasis on priorities identified in resolution 52/82
of 12 December 1997;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue supporting initiatives of relevant
bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as those of regional,
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, for the promotion
of the rights of persons with disabilities and the further implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and in their efforts to mainstream persons
with disabilities in development cooperation, both as beneficiaries and decision makers;
9. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his efforts in improving
the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with disabilities, and urges him to continue
implementing plans to provide a barrier-free environment, as well as information in accessible
format and communication services;
10. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth
session, through the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-ninth session, a report
on the implementation of the present resolution.