UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS

A

General Assembly

Diet. GENERAL
A/42/774
17 November 1987
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

Forty-second session Agenda item 93
IMPLEMENTATION OP THE WORLD PROGRAMME OF ACTION CONCERNING DISABLED PERSONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS
Report of the Third Committee
Rapporteur: Mrs. Ani SANTHOSO (Indonesia)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on is September 1967, the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of its forty-second session the item entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Personal reports of the Secretary-General" and to allocate it to the Third Committee.
2. The Third Committee considered the item jointly with items 88, 89, 90, 94 and 141 at its 14th to 22nd, 28th and 32nd meetings on 15, 16, 19 to 23 and 29 October and 3 November 1987. An account of the Committee's discussions is contained in the relevant summary records (A/C. 3/42/BR. 14-22, 28 and 32).
3. The Committee had before it the following documentation:

(a) Report of the Economic and Social Council for the year 1987, chapter V, section B (A/42/3); 1/
(b) Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons) report of the Secretary-General (A/42/551);
1/ To be issued as Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-second Session. Supplement No. 3 (A/42/3).
87-29573 0562P (E)

A/42/774 English Page 2
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on the evaluation of the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning disabled persons during the first half of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (A/42/561).
4. At the 14th meeting, the Director-General for Development and International Economic Co-operation, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna and the Director of the Social Development Division of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs made introductory statements (see A/C.3/42/SR.14) .
II. CONSIDERATION OF DRAFT RESOLUTION A/C.3/42/L.25
5. At the 28th meeting, on 24 October 1987, the representative of the Philippines introduced a draft resolution (A/C.3/42/L.25), entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons", sponsored by Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Germany, Federal Republic of, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Romania. Senegal, Sweden, the United States of America, Yugoslavia and Zaire, subsequently joined by Guatemala, Kenya, the Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
6. At the 32nd meeting, on 3 November, the Secretary announced, on behalf of the sponsors, an amendment to the resolution as follows:
In operative paragraph 9, after the words "within existing resources, alternative", delete the word "management".
7. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted, without a vote, draft resolution
A/C.3/42/L.25 as orally revised (see Para. 8).
III. RECOMMENDATION OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
B. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:
Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persona and the United Nations Decade of Disabled
Per sons
The General Assembly,
Recalling all its pertinent resolutions, including resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 2/ and resolution 37/53 of 3 December 1982, by which it,
2/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Add.1/Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation (IV).

A/42/774 English Page 3
inter alia, proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Parsons,
Recalling its resolution 41/106 of 4 December 1986 and reaffirming all of its relevant provisions,
Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/43 of 28 May 1987, by which it, inter alia, requested the Secretary-General to make all appropriate efforts to mobilize international support and action for the Decade,
Further taking note of the Guiding Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near Future, 3/ adopted by the Interregional Consultation on Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes, held at Vienna from 7 to 15 September 1987,
Bearing in mind that 1987 marks the mid-point of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons and that, in the review being conducted on the implementation of the World Programme of Action, the most important criteria for evaluation are suggested by the theme of the International Year of Disabled Parsons, "Full participation and equality",
Noting with satisfaction the concrete measures already carried out by the Governments of Member States, the bodies and organizations of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to implement the objectives of the World Programme of Action within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,
Noting the important work currently being undertaken by the Sub Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on human rights and disability, which could serve as a useful basis for the continued efforts to ensure for disabled persons the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
Noting with appreciation the stops taken by the United Nations system and by the non-governmental organizations concerned to monitor the implementation of the World Programme of Action,
Reiterating the need to give greater publicity to revitalize the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,
Recognizing the pivotal role of the United Nations in promoting the exchange of information, experience and expertise and closer regional and interregional co-operation towards more effective strategies and policies to advance the status and welfare of persons with disabilities,
3/ E/CONF.80/10.

A/42/774 English Page 4
Stressing that the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affaire is the focal point within the United Nations for the implementation and monitoring of the World Programme of Action,
Concerned that, at the mid-point of the Decade, the resource base of the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons is significantly reduced from that prevailing during the first half of the Decade, and that unless this trend is reversed, the resources of the Fund will be depleted and operational activities will lapse well before the end of the decade in 1992,
Mindful that, since developing countries are experiencing difficulties in mobilizing resources, international co-operation should be encouraged to assist national efforts in implementing the World Programme of Action and the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,
Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, 4/
Also taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the evaluation of the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons during the first half of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, 5/
1. Reaffirms the validity of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and urges Member States to rededicate themselves to the early and effective implementation of the Programme)
2. Invites those Member States that have not done so to establish national committees in consultation with disabled persons and their organizations as focal points for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons)
3. Invites once again Member States to reinforce national committees as focal points for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, to stimulate activities at the national level, to mobilize public opinion on behalf of the Decade, to participate in the implementation of disability projects with regard to the International Year of Disabled Persons and to assist in monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons during the second half of the Decade;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider convening, within existing resources, during the second half of the Decade, an interregional
4/ A/42/551. 5/ A/42/561.

A/42/774 English Page 5
meeting of representatives of national disability committees with a view to enhancing the capabilities of such committees through an exchange of views and information;
5. Invites Member States to incorporate in their national development plans and strategies projects to assist persons with disabilities and to include such projects in the country programmes of the United Nations Development Programme;
6. Renews its invitation to all States to give high priority to projects concerning the prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation and the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons within the framework of bilateral assistance;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to encourage all organs and bodies of the United Nations, including regional commissions, international organizations and specialized agencies, to take into consideration the specific needs of disabled persons when elaborating their programmes and operational activities;
8. Invites the Secretary-General and Member States to encourage real involvement of disabled persons in United Nations programmes and activities, including the provision of employment opportunities;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to consider, within existing resources, alternative structures to ensure that the issue of disability is accorded high visibility and to develop the Disabled Persons Unit in the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs as a specialized facilitating agent engaging the available resources of the United Nations system and relevant networks outside the United Nations;
10. Invites the Centre to expand its close collaboration with non-governmental organizations and to consult with them on a regular and systematic basis on matters relating to the implementation of the World Programme of Action;
11. Calls upon Member states, national committees, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations to assist in a global information campaign to publicize the Decade through all appropriate means!
12. Recognizes the important role of non-governmental organizations, especially those representing persons with disabilities, in the effective implementation of the World Programme of Action, in raising international awareness of the concerns of persons with disabilities and in monitoring and evaluating progress achieved during the Decade;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to administer donated funds, using them for projects under the present structure of the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, and, in addition, to continue to make new provisions in order to offer a selection of projects to

A/42/774 English Page 6
donor countries that might be willing to finance a particular programme under the "Special Purpose Contributions";
14. Reaffirms that the resources of the Voluntary Fund should be used to support catalytic and innovative activities in order to implement further the objectives of the World Programme of Action within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, with priority given, as appropriate, to programmes and projects of the least developed countries;
15. Invites Governments and nongovernmental organizations to continue their contributions to the Voluntary Fund, and calls upon Governments and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so to consider contributing to the Fund so as to enable it to respond effectively to the growing demand for assistance;
16. Expresses its appreciation to the Government of Sweden for hosting
the Global Meeting of Experts to review the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons at the mid-point of the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, held at Stockholm from 17 to
22 August 1987, and to the experts who participated;
17. Requests Member states and all relevant bodies and organs of the United Nations system to submit to the Secretary-General their comments on the recommendations outlined in paragraphs 10 to 39 of the report of the Global Meeting of Experts, 6/ as well as on the report of the Secretary-General on the evaluation of the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons during the first half of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons 5/ and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report thereon to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session in 1988;
18. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-third session on the implementation of the present resolution;
19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-third session the item entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons".
6/ CSDHA/DDP/GME/7 of 1 September 1987.