UN Human Rights Treaties

UNITED NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/48/627
14 December 1993
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Forty-eighth session
Agenda item 109
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE
WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH, AGEING, DISABLED
PERSONS AND THE FAMILY
Report of the Third Committee
Rapporteur: Mrs. Rosa Carmina Recinos de MALDONADO (Guatemala)
I. INTRODUCTION
1. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 24 September 1993, the General Assembly, on
the recommendation of the General Committee, decided to include in the agenda of
its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Social development, including
questions relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing, disabled
persons and the family" and to allocate it to the Third Committee.
2. The Committee considered the item at its 11th to 19th, 21st and
32nd meetings, from 19 to 22 and on 25, 28 and 29 October and on 2 and
12 November 1993. An account of the Committee’s discussion of the item is
contained in the relevant summary records (A/C.3/48/SR.11-19, 21 and 32).
3. For its consideration of the item, the Committee had before it the
following documents:
(a) Report of the Economic and Social Council (A/48/3, chap. VII.D); 1/
(b) Report of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit for Social
Development (A/48/24); 2/
1/ To be issued in final form as Official Records of the General
Assembly, Forty-eighth Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/48/3/Rev.1).
2/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 24.
93-70817 (E) 151293 /...
A/48/627
English
Page 2
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Guiding
Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near
Future (A/48/56-E/1993/6);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on the International Year of the
Family (A/48/293);
(e) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (A/48/462);
(f) Report on the World Social Situation, 1993 (E/1993/50/Rev.1); 3/
(g) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the regional
commissions on the World Summit for Social Development (A/48/476);
(h) Letter dated 11 June 1993 from the Chargé d’affaires a.i. of the
Permanent Mission of Yugoslavia to the United Nations addressed to the
Secretary-General (A/48/207-S/25936);
(i) Letter dated 29 July 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Norway
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/48/289);
(j) Letter dated 4 August 1993 from the Permanent Representative of Brazil
to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/48/291-S/26242);
(k) Letter dated 30 August 1993 from the Permanent Representative of the
Marshall Islands to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
(A/48/359);
(l) Letter dated 6 October 1993 from the Permanent Representative of
Indonesia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
(A/48/484-S/26552);
(m) Letter dated 28 October 1993 from the Permanent Representative of
Cyprus to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (A/48/564).
4. At the 11th meeting, on 19 October, the Director of the Social Policy
Analysis Division of the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable
Development and Coordinator for the World Summit for Social Development and the
representative of the Department for Economic and Social Information and Policy
Analysis made introductory statements (see A/C.3/48/SR.11).
II. CONSIDERATION OF PROPOSALS
A. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.2
5. At its 18th meeting, on 28 October, the Committee had before it a draft
resolution entitled "Positive and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in
3/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.93.IV.2.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 3
all aspects of society and the leadership role of the United Nations therein",
contained in document A/C.3/48/L.2, which was recommended by the Economic and
Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly.
6. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted the draft resolution contained
in document A/C.3/48/L.2 without a vote (see para. 28, draft resolution I).
B. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.3
7. At its 18th meeting, on 28 October, the Committee had before it a draft
resolution entitled "Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities", contained in document A/C.3/48/L.3, which was
recommended by the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General
Assembly.
8. At the same meeting, the Director of the Social Policy Analysis Division of
the Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development made a
statement (see A/C.3/48/SR.18).
9. Also at the same meeting, the Committee adopted the draft resolution
contained in document A/C.3/48/L.3 without a vote (see para. 28, draft
resolution II).
10. After the adoption of the draft resolution, the representative of Spain
made a statement (see A/C.3/48/SR.18).
C. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.4
11. At its 18th meeting, on 28 October, the Committee had before it a draft
resolution entitled "International Day of Disabled Persons", contained in
document A/C.3/48/L.4, which was recommended by the Economic and Social Council
for adoption by the General Assembly.
12. At the same meeting, the Secretary of the Committee made a statement (see
A/C.3/48/SR.18).
13. Also at the same meeting, the Committee adopted the draft resolution
contained in document A/C.3/48/L.4 without a vote (see para. 28, draft
resolution III).
D. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.6
14. At the 19th meeting, on 29 October, the representative of the Dominican
Republic, on behalf of Austria, the Dominican Republic and Malta, introduced a
draft resolution entitled "Implementation of the International Plan of Action on
Ageing" (A/C.3/48/L.6), and orally revised operative paragraph 9 by inserting
the words "conceptual framework of a" before the word "programme".
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 4
15. At its 32nd meeting, on 12 November, the Committee adopted draft resolution
A/C.3/48/L.6, as orally revised, without a vote (see para. 28, draft
resolution IV).
16. After the adoption of the draft resolution, the representative of the
Philippines made a statement (see A/C.3/48/SR.32).
E. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.7 and Rev.1
17. On 26 October, Afghanistan, Belarus, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt,
Indonesia, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, the
Philippines and Romania submitted a draft resolution entitled "Towards full
integration of persons with disabilities in society: a continuing world
programme of action" (A/C.3/48/L.7), which read:
"The General Assembly,
"Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 37/52
and 37/53 of 3 December 1982, 46/96 of 16 December 1991 and 47/88 of
16 December 1992, and taking note of Economic and Social Council decision
1992/276 of 30 July 1992 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/48
of 3 March 1992, 4/
"Noting the importance of developing and carrying out concrete
long-term strategies for the full implementation of the World Programme of
Action concerning Disabled Persons beyond the United Nations Decade of
Disabled Persons, with the aim of achieving a society for all by the
year 2000,
"Reaffirming that the efforts of both the developing and the developed
countries are indispensable to mobilize the world’s attention and resources
to address the problems of persons with disabilities,
"Aware of the major obstacles to the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, foremost among these being
an inadequate allocation of resources,
"1. Reaffirms the continuing validity and value of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, which provides a firm and
innovative framework for disability-related issues;
"2. Reiterates the responsibility of Governments for removing or
facilitating the removal of barriers and obstacles to the full integration
of persons with disabilities into society, and supports their efforts in
developing national policies to reach specific objectives;
4/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992,
Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 5
"3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to give higher
priority and visibility to disability issues within the work programme of
the United Nations system by:
"(a) Integrating disability issues into the policies, programmes and
projects of the specialized agencies on a broader scale and with higher
priority, and asking all the specialized agencies to report on their
engagement in the disability field;
"(b) Asking the United Nations Development Programme to review how a
disability component can be incorporated in all its reconstruction
programmes;
"(c) Finalizing the ongoing work within the United Nations
Development Programme of creating a disability index based on the
twenty-two rules in the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities;
"(d) Publishing a manual on the integration of disability issues into
national planning and development projects;
"(e) Asking the Statistical Office of the Secretariat, in close
cooperation with all relevant United Nations organizations and Governments,
to continue its important work of collecting statistical data about
disability matters and to finalize the commendable work carried out by the
Statistical Division of the United Nations Development Programme concerning
the development of a global disability indicator;
"4. Recommends that regional arrangements, including the Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Economic Commission for
Europe, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the
Economic Commission for Africa and other relevant regional organizations,
be fully utilized to explore the best ways and means to improve the
specific situation of persons with disabilities in each region;
"5. Invites Member countries and the private sector, including
relevant non-governmental organizations, to contribute to the United
Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability;
"6. Invites Member countries and other donors to pay close attention
to the increasing number of persons with disabilities as a consequence of
natural disasters, wars and catastrophic accidents;
"7. Commends the launching of the Asian and Pacific Decade of
Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, and the adoption of the Proclamation on the
Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian
and Pacific region 5/ by the intergovernmental Meeting to Launch the
Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, convened by the
5/ See E/ESCAP/902, annex I.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 6
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at Beijing from
1 to 5 December 1992;
"8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly
at its forty-ninth session on the implementation of the present resolution
under the item entitled ’Social development’."
18. At the 21st meeting, on 2 November, the representative of the Philippines,
on behalf of the sponsors, now joined by Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Cyprus, Finland, Iceland, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation,
Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
introduced a revised draft resolution (A/C.3/48/L.7/Rev.1). Subsequently,
Armenia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kuwait and
Myanmar joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.
19. In introducing the revised draft resolution, the representative of the
Philippines orally revised it by adding to operative paragraph 3 a new
subparagraph (d), which read:
"(d) Encouraging the activities of the United Nations Children’s Fund
in promoting prevention and early detection, public awareness and
community-based rehabilitation in respect of childhood disabilities;"
existing subparagraphs (d) to (g) consequently became (e) to (h).
20. At its 32nd meeting, on 12 November, the Committee adopted revised draft
resolution A/C.3/48/L.7/Rev.1, as orally revised, without a vote (see para. 28,
draft resolution V).
F. Draft resolution A/C.3/48/L.11 and Rev.1
21. At the 21st meeting, on 2 November, the representative of Chile, on behalf
of Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan,
Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central
African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cyprus,
Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana,
Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iceland, India, Indonesia, the Islamic
Republic of Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Luxembourg, Madagascar,
Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the
Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the
Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Togo,
Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Venezuela, Yemen and Zimbabwe, introduced
a draft resolution entitled "World Summit for Social Development"
(A/C.3/48/L.11), which read:
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 7
"World Summit for Social Development
"The General Assembly,
"Recalling its resolution 47/92 of 16 December 1992, by which it
decided to convene a World Summit for Social Development, agreed on the
objectives and core issues of the Summit and, inter alia, established a
Preparatory Committee,
"Recalling also the deliberations of the high-level segment of the
Economic and Social Council for 1993 on the item ’World Summit for Social
Development’ and the deliberations of the Commission for Social Development
at its thirty-third session, 6/
"Recalling further the decision by the Preparatory Committee at its
organizational session to convene the World Summit for Social Development
from 6 to 12 March 1995 at Copenhagen, Denmark,
"Considering that the World Summit for Social Development and its
preparatory process should strengthen efforts by all countries to promote
policies for the enhancement of social integration in all societies, the
alleviation and reduction of poverty and the expansion of productive
employment,
"Considering also the contributions of non-governmental organizations,
"Taking into account the need to facilitate the work of the
substantive sessions of the Preparatory Committee,
"1. Takes note with appreciation of the summary prepared by the
President of the Economic and Social Council on the deliberations of the
high-level segment of the Economic and Social Council during the regular
session for 1993 and of Commission for Social Development
resolution 33/1; 7/
"2. Also takes note with appreciation of the report of the
Preparatory Committee on its organizational session;
"3. Calls upon all Member States, in accordance with paragraph 8 of
General Assembly resolution 47/92, to appoint personal representatives of
the heads of State and/or Government or other appropriate high-level
representatives specifically designated by Governments for their
participation in the first substantive session of the Preparatory
Committee;
6/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993,
Supplement No. 4 (E/1993/24), chap. II.
7/ Ibid., chap. I.D.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 8
"4. Invites all Member States to contribute generously to the
voluntary Trust Fund established in accordance with General Assembly
resolution 47/92 for the additional activities required for the preparation
and holding of the World Summit for Social Development, particularly the
participation of the least developed countries in the Summit and its
preparatory process;
"5. Invites all Member States to set up National Committees for the
World Summit for Social Development and to hold meetings for public debate
on the core issues to be addressed by the Summit;
"6. Requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary provisions
in order that the Preparatory Committee may, if it so decides:
"(a) Establish, during the first substantive session, a working group
of the whole to meet in parallel with the plenary for a duration of one
week;
"(b) Establish, during the second substantive session, a working group
of the whole to meet in parallel with the plenary for a duration of two
weeks;
"(c) Establish, during the third substantive session, two working
groups to meet in parallel with the plenary for a duration of two weeks;
"7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to report to the Preparatory
Committee at its first substantive session on the implementation of the
programme of public information for the World Summit for Social
Development;
"8. Invites the organs, organizations and programmes of the United
Nations system as well as other intergovernmental organizations, in
particular the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations
Development Programme, the United Nations Population Fund, the regional
commissions, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the
International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of
the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund to inform the Preparatory Committee on their
contributions to the Summit and its preparatory work at its first
substantive session;
"9. Calls upon the non-governmental organizations in consultative
status with the United Nations and those accredited to the Summit and its
preparatory process to contribute fully to the work of the Preparatory
Committee and to the Summit;
"10. Requests the Preparatory Committee to report to the General
Assembly at its forty-ninth session on the progress of work of the
Committee and the preparations for the Summit."
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 9
22. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of Chile orally
revised it by inserting the words "and the relevant regional organizations"
after the words "regional commissions" in operative paragraph 8.
23. At the 32nd meeting, on 12 November, the representative of Chile, on behalf
of the sponsors, now joined by Canada, Germany, Honduras, Suriname, Sweden,
Uganda, Ukraine and Viet Nam, introduced a revised draft resolution
(A/C.3/48/L.11/Rev.1). Subsequently, Afghanistan, the Bahamas, Belarus, the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Ghana, Kenya, Kuwait, the
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines,
Senegal, the Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Thailand, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia and Uruguay joined in sponsoring the revised draft
resolution.
24. In introducing the revised draft resolution, the representative of Chile
orally revised it by deleting the word "Member" before the word "States" in
operative paragraphs 3, 4 and 5.
25. At the same meeting, the Committee adopted revised draft resolution
A/C.3/48/L.11/Rev.1 as orally revised, without a vote (see para. 28, draft
resolution VI).
26. After the adoption of the revised draft resolution, statements were made by
the representatives of Colombia and Cuba (see A/C.3/48/SR.32).
G. Draft decision
27. At its 32nd meeting, on 12 November, on the proposal of the Chairman, the
Committee adopted a draft decision by which the General Assembly would take note
of documents considered under the item (see para. 29, draft decision).
III. RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
28. The Third Committee recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the
following draft resolutions:
DRAFT RESOLUTION I
Positive and full inclusion of persons with disabilities
in all aspects of society and the leadership role of the
United Nations therein
The General Assembly,
Mindful of the pledge made by States, under the Charter of the United
Nations, to take action jointly and separately, in cooperation with the United
Nations, to promote higher standards of living, full employment and conditions
of economic and social progress and development,
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 10
Reaffirming the commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, social
justice and the dignity and worth of the human person proclaimed in the Charter,
Recalling in particular the international standards of human rights laid
down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 8/
Noting that the rights proclaimed in those instruments should be ensured
equally to all individuals without discrimination,
Recalling the provisions safeguarding the rights of women with disabilities
in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women, 9/
Having regard to the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, 10/
the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, 11/ the
Declaration on Social Progress and Development, 12/ the Principles for the
Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental
Health Care 13/ and other relevant instruments adopted by the General
Assembly,
Also having regard to the relevant conventions and recommendations adopted
by the International Labour Organisation, with particular reference to
participation in employment without discrimination for persons with
disabilities,
Mindful of the relevant recommendations and work of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in particular the World
Declaration on Education for All, 14/ and of the work of the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and other concerned
organizations,
Recognizing that the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,
adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, and
the definition therein of equalization of opportunities reflect the
8/ Resolution 217 A (III).
9/ Resolution 34/180, annex.
10/ Resolution 3447 (XXX).
11/ Resolution 2856 (XXVI).
12/ Resolution 2542 (XXIV).
13/ Resolution 46/119, annex.
14/ Final Report of the World Conference on Education for All: Meeting
Basic Learning Needs, Jomtien, Thailand, 5-9 March 1990, Inter-Agency Commission
(UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, World Bank) for the World Conference on Education for
All, New York, 1990, appendix 1.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 11
determination of the international community to ensure that the various
international instruments and recommendations will be put to practical, concrete
and effective use in improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities
and their families and communities,
Acknowledging that the objective of the United Nations Decade of Disabled
Persons (1983-1992) as a means to implement the World Programme of Action is
still valid and requires urgent and continued action,
Recalling that the World Programme of Action is based on concepts which are
equally valid in developed and developing countries,
Convinced that intensified efforts are needed to achieve the full and equal
enjoyment of human rights and full participation and inclusion in society of
persons with disabilities,
Recognizing that persons with disabilities, their families and
representatives and organizations concerned with the needs of persons with
disabilities must be active partners with States in the planning and
implementation of all measures affecting their civil, political, economic,
social and cultural rights,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26 of 24 May 1990,
and reaffirming the detailed enumeration in the World Programme of Action of
specific measures required for the attainment of full equality by persons with
disabilities,
Reaffirming the commitment of the Commission for Social Development to the
provisions and rules set out in the ongoing process of elaborating standard
rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,
Recognizing the essential role of the United Nations and the Commission for
Social Development in providing leadership and positive guidance to encourage
worldwide change by equalizing opportunities, promoting independence and
ensuring the full inclusion and participation in society of all persons with
disabilities,
Seeking to ensure effective implementation of action to promote the full
inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and to affirm
the leadership role of the United Nations in that process,
1. Calls upon the Secretary-General to maintain the integrity and the
identity of the United Nations programme on disabled persons, including the
United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, in order to promote the
equalization of opportunities and full inclusion in society of persons with
disabilities;
2. Urges the Secretary-General to strengthen, through redeployment of
resources, the United Nations programme on disabled persons in order to enable
it:
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 12
(a) To represent the needs of persons with disabilities and their families
and communities throughout the United Nations system;
(b) To ensure effective coordination and streamlining of efforts to
respond to the needs of persons with disabilities (through policy formulation,
advocacy and liaison) among all bodies within the United Nations system,
particularly the International Labour Organisation, the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations
Children’s Fund;
(c) To promote equal opportunities and full participation of people with
disabilities and their families and representatives within the United Nations
system itself;
(d) In cooperation with Member States, bodies within the United Nations
system, non-governmental organizations and other appropriate agencies, to extend
technical assistance and disseminate information in order to enhance the
capacity of Member States to develop, implement and evaluate their efforts to
equalize opportunities and provide for the full inclusion in society of persons
with disabilities;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to report biennially to the General
Assembly on the progress of efforts to ensure the equalization of opportunities
and full inclusion of people with disabilities within the various bodies of the
United Nations system;
4. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider, in view of the
importance of ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities and their
families and communities are represented in an equitable manner, strengthening
and upgrading the status of the Disabled Persons Unit of the Secretariat through
redeployment of resources;
5. Reaffirms that the issues of equalization of opportunities and full
inclusion in society for persons with disabilities will be an important part of
the preparatory process and the agenda of the World Summit for Social
Development to be held at Copenhagen on 11 and 12 March 1995;
6. Also reaffirms the commitment of the Commission for Social Development
to ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities and their families and
communities will continue to be addressed in all of its work.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 13
DRAFT RESOLUTION II
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities
The General Assembly,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26 of 24 May 1990, in
which the Council authorized the Commission for Social Development to consider,
at its thirty-second session, the establishment of an ad hoc open-ended working
group of government experts, funded by voluntary contributions, to elaborate
standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for disabled children, youth
and adults, in close collaboration with the specialized agencies, other
intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, especially
organizations of disabled persons, and requested the Commission, should it
establish such a working group, to finalize the text of those rules for
consideration by the Council at its first regular session of 1993 and for
submission to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session,
Also recalling that in its resolution 32/2 of 20 February 1991 the
Commission for Social Development decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended
working group of government experts in accordance with Economic and Social
Council resolution 1990/26, 15/
Noting with appreciation of the participation of many States, specialized
agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations,
especially organizations of disabled persons, in the deliberations of the
working group,
Also noting with appreciation the generous financial contributions of
Member States to the working group,
Welcoming the fact that the working group was able to fulfil its mandate
within three sessions of five working days each,
Acknowledging with appreciation the report of the ad hoc open-ended working
group to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for
disabled persons, 16/
Taking note of the discussion in the Commission for Social Development at
its thirty-third session on the draft standard rules, 17/
15/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1991,
Supplement No. 6 (E/1991/26), chap. I, sect. D.
16/ E/CN.5/1993/5.
17/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993,
Supplement No. 4 (E/1993/24), chap. III, sect. E.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 14
1. Adopts the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities set forth in the annex to the present resolution;
2. Requests Member States to apply the Standard Rules in developing
national disability programmes;
3. Urges Member States to meet the requests of the Special Rapporteur for
information on the implementation of the Standard Rules;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the implementation of the
Standard Rules and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftieth
session;
5. Urges Member States to support, financially and otherwise, the
implementation of the Standard Rules.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 15
ANNEX
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Persons with Disabilities
INTRODUCTION
Background and current needs
Previous international action
Towards standard rules
Purpose and content of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
Fundamental concepts in disability policy
PREAMBLE
I. PRECONDITIONS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
Rule 1. Awareness-raising
Rule 2. Medical care
Rule 3. Rehabilitation
Rule 4. Support services
II. TARGET AREAS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
Rule 5. Accessibility
Rule 6. Education
Rule 7. Employment
Rule 8. Income maintenance and social security
Rule 9. Family life and personal integrity
Rule 10. Culture
Rule 11. Recreation and sports
Rule 12. Religion
III. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Rule 13. Information and research
Rule 14. Policy-making and planning
Rule 15. Legislation
Rule 16. Economic policies
Rule 17. Coordination of work
Rule 18. Organizations of persons with disabilities
Rule 19. Personnel training
Rule 20. National monitoring and evaluation of disability programmes
in the implementation of the Standard Rules
Rule 21. Technical and economic cooperation
Rule 22. International cooperation
IV. MONITORING MECHANISM
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 16
INTRODUCTION
Background and current needs
1. There are persons with disabilities in all parts of the world and at all
levels in every society. The number of persons with disabilities in the world
is large and is growing.
2. Both the causes and the consequences of disability vary throughout the
world. Those variations are the result of different socio-economic
circumstances and of the different provisions that States make for the
well-being of their citizens.
3. Present disability policy is the result of developments over the past
200 years. In many ways it reflects the general living conditions and social
and economic policies of different times. In the disability field, however,
there are also many specific circumstances that have influenced the living
conditions of persons with disabilities. Ignorance, neglect, superstition and
fear are social factors that throughout the history of disability have isolated
persons with disabilities and delayed their development.
4. Over the years disability policy developed from elementary care at
institutions to education for children with disabilities and rehabilitation for
persons who became disabled during adult life. Through education and
rehabilitation, persons with disabilities became more active and a driving force
in the further development of disability policy. Organizations of persons with
disabilities, their families and advocates were formed, which advocated better
conditions for persons with disabilities. After the Second World War the
concepts of integration and normalization were introduced, which reflected a
growing awareness of the capabilities of persons with disabilities.
5. Towards the end of the 1960s organizations of persons with disabilities in
some countries started to formulate a new concept of disability. That new
concept indicated the close connection between the limitation experienced by
individuals with disabilities, the design and structure of their environments
and the attitude of the general population. At the same time the problems of
disability in developing countries were more and more highlighted. In some of
those countries the percentage of the population with disabilities was estimated
to be very high and, for the most part, persons with disabilities were extremely
poor.
Previous international action
6. The rights of persons with disabilities have been the subject of much
attention in the United Nations and other international organizations over a
long period of time. The most important outcome of the International Year of
Disabled Persons, 1981, was the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, 18/ adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/52. The
18/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 17
International Year of Disabled Persons and the World Programme of Action
provided a strong impetus for progress in the field. They both emphasized the
right of persons with disabilities to the same opportunities as other citizens
and to an equal share in the improvements in living conditions resulting from
economic and social development. There also, for the first time, handicap was
defined as a function of the relationship between persons with disabilities and
their environment.
7. 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 was held at Stockholm in 1987. It was
suggested at that Meeting that a guiding philosophy should be developed to
indicate the priorities for action in the years ahead. The basis of that
philosophy should be the recognition of the rights of persons with disabilities.
8. Consequently, the Meeting recommended that the General Assembly convene a
special conference to draft an international convention on the elimination of
all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, to be ratified by
States by the end of the Decade.
9. A draft outline of the convention was prepared by Italy and presented to
the General Assembly at its forty-second session. Further presentations
concerning a draft convention were made by Sweden at the forty-fourth session of
the Assembly. However, on both occasions, no consensus could be reached on the
suitability of such a convention. In the opinion of many representatives,
existing human rights documents seemed to guarantee persons with disabilities
the same rights as other persons.
Towards standard rules
10. Guided by the deliberations in the General Assembly, the Economic and
Social Council, at its first regular session of 1990, finally agreed to
concentrate on the elaboration of an international instrument of a different
kind. By its resolution 1990/26, the Council authorized the Commission for
Social Development to consider, at its thirty-second session, the establishment
of an ad hoc open-ended working group of government experts, funded by voluntary
contributions, to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities
for disabled children, youth and adults, in close collaboration with the
specialized agencies, other intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental
organizations, especially organizations of disabled persons. The Council also
requested the Commission to finalize the text of those rules for consideration
in 1993 and for submission to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session.
11. The subsequent discussions in the Third Committee of the General Assembly
at the forty-fifth session showed that there was wide support for the new
initiative to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities.
12. At the thirty-second session of the Commission for Social Development, the
initiative for standard rules received the support of a large number of
representatives and discussions led to the adoption of resolution 32/2, in which
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 18
it was decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group in accordance
with Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26.
Purpose and content of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities
13. The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities have been developed on the basis of the experience gained during
the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992). 19/ The
International Bill of Human Rights, comprising the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, 20/ the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights 21/ and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 21/
the Convention on the Rights of the Child 22/ and the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 23/ as well as the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, constitute the political
and moral foundation for these Rules.
14. Although these Rules are not compulsory, they can become international
customary rules when they are applied by a great number of States with the
intention of respecting a rule in international law. They imply a strong moral
and political commitment on behalf of States to take action for the equalization
of opportunities. Important principles for responsibility, action and
cooperation are indicated. Areas of decisive importance for the quality of life
and for the achievement of full participation and equality are pointed out.
These Rules offer an instrument for policy-making and action to persons with
disabilities and their organizations. They provide a basis for technical and
economic cooperation among States, the United Nations and other international
organizations.
15. The purpose of these Rules is to ensure that girls, boys, women and men
with disabilities, as citizens of their societies, may exercise the same rights
and obligations as others. In all societies of the world there are still
obstacles preventing persons with disabilities from exercising their rights and
freedoms and making it difficult for them to participate fully in the activities
of their societies. It is the responsibility of States to take appropriate
action to remove such obstacles. Persons with disabilities and their
organizations should play an active role as partners in this process. The
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities is an essential
contribution in the general and worldwide effort to mobilize human resources.
19/ Proclaimed by the General Assembly in its resolution 37/53.
20/ Resolution 217 A (III).
21/ Resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex.
22/ Resolution 44/25, annex.
23/ Resolution 34/180, annex.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 19
Special attention may need to be directed towards groups such as women,
children, the elderly, the poor, migrant workers, persons with dual or multiple
disabilities, indigenous persons and ethnic minorities. In addition, there are
a large number of refugees with disabilities who have special needs requiring
attention.
Fundamental concepts in disability policy
16. The concepts set out below appear throughout these Rules. They are
essentially built on the concepts in the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons. In some cases they reflect the development that has taken
place during the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons.
Disability and handicap
17. The term "disability" summarizes a great number of different functional
limitations occurring in any population in all countries of the world. People
may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical
conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be
permanent or transitory in nature.
18. Handicap is the loss or limitation of opportunities to take part in the
life of the community on an equal level with others. The term "handicap"
describes the encounter between the person with a disability and the
environment. The purpose of this term is to emphasize the focus on the
shortcomings in the environment and in many organized activities in society, for
example, information, communication and education, which prevent persons with
disabilities from participating on equal terms.
19. This use of the two terms "disability" and "handicap" should be seen in the
light of modern disability history. During the 1970s there was a strong
reaction among representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities and
professionals in the field of disability against the terminology of the time.
The terms disability and handicap were often used in an unclear and confusing
way, which gave poor guidance for policy-making and for political action. The
terminology reflected a medical and diagnostic approach, that ignored the
imperfections and deficiencies of the surrounding society.
20. In 1980, the World Health Organization adopted an international
classification of impairment, disability and handicap, which suggested a more
precise and at the same time relativistic approach. That classification makes a
clear distinction between impairment, disability and handicap. It has been
extensively used in areas such as rehabilitation, education, statistics, policy,
legislation, demography, sociology, economics and anthropology. Some users have
expressed concern that the classification, in its definition of the term
handicap, may still be considered too medical and too centred on the individual,
and may not adequately clarify the interaction between societal conditions or
expectations and the abilities of the individual. Those concerns, and others
expressed by users during the 12 years since the publication of the
classification, will be addressed in forthcoming revisions.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 20
21. As a result of experience gained in the implementation of the World
Programme of Action and of the general discussion that took place during the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, there was a deepening of knowledge
and extension of understanding concerning disability issues and the terminology
used. Current terminology recognizes the necessity of addressing both the
individual needs (such as rehabilitation and technical aids) and the
shortcomings of the society (various obstacles for participation).
Prevention
22. Prevention means action aimed at preventing the occurrence of physical,
intellectual, psychiatric or sensory impairments (primary prevention) or at
preventing impairments from causing a permanent functional limitation or
disability (secondary prevention). Prevention may include many different types
of action, such as primary health care, prenatal and postnatal child care,
education in nutrition, immunization campaigns against communicable diseases,
measures to control endemic diseases, safety regulations, programmes for the
prevention of accidents in different environments, including adaptation of
workplaces to prevent occupational disabilities and diseases, and prevention of
disability resulting from pollution of the environment or armed conflict.
Rehabilitation
23. Rehabilitation is a process aimed at enabling persons with disabilities to
reach and maintain their optimal physical, sensory, intellectual, psychiatric
and/or social functional levels, thus providing them with the tools to change
their lives towards a higher level of independence. Rehabilitation may include
measures to provide and/or restore functions, or compensate for the loss or
absence of a function or for a functional limitation. The rehabilitation
process does not involve initial medical care. It includes a wide range of
measures and activities from more basic and general rehabilitation to
goal-oriented activities, for instance vocational rehabilitation.
Equalization of opportunities
24. Equalization of opportunities means the process through which the various
systems of society and the environment, such as services, activities,
information and documentation, are made available to all, particularly to
persons with disabilities.
25. The principle of equal rights implies that the needs of each and every
individual are of equal importance, that those needs must be made the basis for
the planning of societies and that all resources must be employed in such a way
as to ensure that every individual has equal opportunity for participation.
26. Persons with disabilities are members of society and have the right to
remain within their local communities. They should receive the support they
need within the ordinary structures of education, health, employment and social
services.
27. As persons with disabilities achieve equal rights, they should also have
equal obligations. As those rights are being achieved, societies should raise
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 21
their expectations of persons with disabilities. As part of the process of
equal opportunities, provision should be made to assist persons with
disabilities to assume their full responsibility as members of society.
PREAMBLE
Mindful of the pledge made by States, under the Charter of the United
Nations, to take joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organization
to promote higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of
economic and social progress and development,
Reaffirming the commitment to human rights and fundamental freedoms, social
justice and the dignity and worth of the human person proclaimed in the Charter,
Recalling in particular the international standards on human rights, which
have been laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
Noting that those instruments proclaim that the rights recognized therein
should be ensured equally to all individuals without discrimination,
Recalling the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 22/
which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and require special
measures to ensure the rights of children with disabilities, and the
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers
and Members of Their Families, 24/ which provides for some protective
measures against disability,
Recalling also the provisions in the Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women 9/ to ensure the rights of girls and women
with disabilities,
Having regard to the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, 10/ the
Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, 11/ the Declaration on
Social Progress and Development, 12/ the Principles for the Protection of
Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care, 13/
and other relevant instruments adopted by the General Assembly,
Also having regard to the relevant conventions and recommendations adopted
by the International Labour Organisation, with particular reference to
participation in employment without discrimination for persons with
disabilities,
Mindful of the relevant recommendations and work of the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, in particular the World
Declaration on Education for All, 14/ the World Health Organization, the United
Nations Children’s Fund and other concerned organizations,
24/ Resolution 45/158, annex.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 22
Having regard to the commitment made by States concerning the protection of
the environment,
Mindful of the devastation caused by armed conflict and deploring the use
of scarce resources in the production of weapons,
Recognizing that the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons
and the definition therein of "equalization of opportunities" represent earnest
ambitions on the part of the international community to render those various
international instruments and recommendations of practical and concrete
significance,
Acknowledging that the objective of the United Nations Decade of Disabled
Persons (1983-1992) to implement the World Programme of Action is still valid,
and requires urgent and continued action,
Recalling that the World Programme of Action is based on concepts that are
equally valid in developing and industrialized countries,
Convinced that intensified efforts are needed to achieve the full and equal
enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with
disabilities,
Re-emphasizing that persons with disabilities, and their parents,
guardians, advocates and organizations, must be active partners with States in
the planning and implementation of all measures affecting their civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
In pursuance of Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26 of
24 May 1990, and basing themselves on the detailed enumeration in the World
Programme of Action of specific measures required for the attainment by persons
with disabilities of equality with others,
States have adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for
Disabled Persons outlined below, in order:
(a) To stress that all action in the field of disability presupposes
adequate knowledge and experience of the conditions and special needs of persons
with disabilities;
(b) To emphasize that the process through which every aspect of societal
organization is made accessible to all is a basic objective of socio-economic
development;
(c) To outline crucial aspects of social policies in the field of
disability, including, as appropriate, the active encouragement of technical and
economic cooperation;
(d) To provide models for the political decision-making process required
for the attainment of equal opportunities, bearing in mind the widely differing
technical and economic levels, the fact that the process must reflect keen
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 23
understanding of the cultural context within which it takes place and the
crucial role of persons with disabilities in it;
(e) To propose national mechanisms for close collaboration among States,
the organs of the United Nations system, other intergovernmental bodies and
organizations of persons with disabilities;
(f) To propose an effective machinery for monitoring the process by which
States seek to attain the equalization of opportunities for persons with
disabilities.
I. PRECONDITIONS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
Rule 1. Awareness-raising
States should take action to raise awareness in society about persons with
disabilities, their rights, their needs, their potential and their contribution.
1. States should ensure that responsible authorities distribute up-to-date
information on available programmes and services to persons with disabilities,
their families, professionals in this field and the general public. Information
to persons with disabilities should be presented in accessible form.
2. States should initiate and support information campaigns concerning persons
with disabilities and disability policies, conveying the message that persons
with disabilities are citizens with the same rights and obligations as others,
thus justifying measures to remove all obstacles to full participation.
3. States should encourage the portrayal of persons with disabilities by the
mass media in a positive way; organizations of persons with disabilities should
be consulted on this matter.
4. States should ensure that public education programmes reflect in all their
aspects the principle of full participation and equality.
5. States should invite persons with disabilities and their families and
organizations to participate in public education programmes concerning
disability matters.
6. States should encourage enterprises in the private sector to include
disability issues in all aspects of their activity.
7. States should initiate and promote programmes aimed at raising the level of
awareness of persons with disabilities concerning their rights and potential.
Increased self-reliance and empowerment will assist persons with disabilities to
take advantage of the opportunities available to them.
8. Awareness-raising should be an important part of the education of children
with disabilities and in rehabilitation programmes. Persons with disabilities
could also assist one another in awareness-raising through the activities of
their own organizations.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 24
9. Awareness-raising should be part of the education of all children and
should be a component of teacher-training courses and training of all
professionals.
Rule 2. Medical care
States should ensure the provision of effective medical care to persons with
disabilities.
1. States should work towards the provision of programmes run by
multidisciplinary teams of professionals for early detection, assessment and
treatment of impairment. This could prevent, reduce or eliminate disabling
effects. Such programmes should ensure the full participation of persons with
disabilities and their families at the individual level, and of organizations of
persons with disabilities at the planning and evaluation level.
2. Local community workers should be trained to participate in areas such as
early detection of impairments, the provision of primary assistance and referral
to appropriate services.
3. States should ensure that persons with disabilities, particularly infants
and children, are provided with the same level of medical care within the same
system as other members of society.
4. States should ensure that all medical and paramedical personnel are
adequately trained and equipped to give medical care to persons with
disabilities and that they have access to relevant treatment methods and
technology.
5. States should ensure that medical, paramedical and related personnel are
adequately trained so that they do not give inappropriate advice to parents,
thus restricting options for their children. This training should be an ongoing
process and should be based on the latest information available.
6. States should ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with any
regular treatment and medicines they may need to preserve or improve their level
of functioning.
Rule 3. Rehabilitation*
States should ensure the provision of rehabilitation services to persons with
disabilities in order for them to reach and sustain their optimum level of
independence and functioning.
* Rehabilitation is a fundamental concept in disability policy and is
defined above in paragraph 23 of the introduction.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 25
1. States should develop national rehabilitation programmes for all groups of
persons with disabilities. Such programmes should be based on the actual
individual needs of persons with disabilities and on the principles of full
participation and equality.
2. Such programmes should include a wide range of activities, such as basic
skills training to improve or compensate for an affected function, counselling
of persons with disabilities and their families, developing self-reliance, and
occasional services such as assessment and guidance.
3. All persons with disabilities, including persons with severe and/or
multiple disabilities, who require rehabilitation should have access to it.
4. Persons with disabilities and their families should be able to participate
in the design and organization of rehabilitation services concerning themselves.
5. All rehabilitation services should be available in the local community
where the person with disabilities lives. However, in some instances, in order
to attain a certain training objective, special time-limited rehabilitation
courses may be organized, where appropriate, in residential form.
6. Persons with disabilities and their families should be encouraged to
involve themselves in rehabilitation, for instance as trained teachers,
instructors or counsellors.
7. States should draw upon the expertise of organizations of persons with
disabilities when formulating or evaluating rehabilitation programmes.
Rule 4. Support services
States should ensure the development and supply of support services, including
assistive devices for persons with disabilities, to assist them to increase
their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights.
1. States should ensure the provision of assistive devices and equipment,
personal assistance and interpreter services, according to the needs of persons
with disabilities, as important measures to achieve the equalization of
opportunities.
2. States should support the development, production, distribution and
servicing of assistive devices and equipment and the dissemination of knowledge
about them.
3. To achieve this, generally available technical know-how should be utilized.
In States where high-technology industry is available, it should be fully
utilized to improve the standard and effectiveness of assistive devices and
equipment. It is important to stimulate the development and production of
simple and inexpensive devices, when possible using local material and local
production facilities. Persons with disabilities themselves could be involved
in the production of those devices.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 26
4. States should recognize that all persons with disabilities who need
assistive devices should have access to them as appropriate, including financial
accessibility. This may mean that assistive devices and equipment should be
provided free of charge or at such a low price that persons with disabilities or
their families can afford to buy them.
5. In rehabilitation programmes for the provision of assistive devices and
equipment, States should consider the special requirements of girls and boys
with disabilities concerning the design, durability and age-appropriateness of
assistive devices and equipment.
6. States should support the development and provision of personal assistance
programmes and interpretation services, especially for persons with severe
and/or multiple disabilities. Such programmes would increase the level of
participation of persons with disabilities in everyday life, at home, at work,
in school and during leisure-time activities.
7. Personal assistance programmes should be designed in such a way that the
persons with disabilities using the programmes have a decisive influence on the
way in which the programmes are delivered.
II. TARGET AREAS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
Rule 5. Accessibility
States should recognize the overall importance of accessibility in the process
of the equalization of opportunities in all spheres of society. For persons
with disabilities of any kind, States should (a) introduce programmes of action
to make the physical environment accessible; and (b) undertake measures to
provide access to information and communication.
(a) Access to the physical environment
1. States should initiate measures to remove the obstacles to participation in
the physical environment. Such measures should be to develop standards and
guidelines and to consider enacting legislation to ensure accessibility to
various areas in society, for instance concerning housing, buildings, public
transport services and other means of transportation, streets and other outdoor
environments.
2. States should ensure that architects, construction engineers and others who
are professionally involved in the design and construction of the physical
environment have access to adequate information on disability policy and
measures to achieve accessibility.
3. Accessibility requirements should be included in the design and
construction of the physical environment from the beginning of the designing
process.
4. Organizations of persons with disabilities should be consulted when
developing standards and norms for accessibility. They should also be involved
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 27
locally from the initial planning stage when public construction projects are
being designed, thus ensuring maximum accessibility.
(b) Access to information and communication
5. Persons with disabilities and, where appropriate, their families and
advocates should have access to full information on diagnosis, rights and
available services and programmes, at all stages. Such information should be
presented in forms accessible to people with disabilities.
6. States should develop strategies to make information services and
documentation accessible for different groups of people with disabilities.
Braille, tape services, large print and other appropriate technologies should be
used to provide access to written information and documentation for persons with
visual impairments. Similarly, appropriate technologies should be used to
provide access to spoken information for persons with auditory impairments or
comprehension difficulties.
7. Consideration should be given to the use of sign language in the education
of deaf children, in their families and communities. Sign language
interpretation services should also be provided to facilitate the communication
between deaf persons and others.
8. Consideration should also be given to the needs of people with other
communication disabilities.
9. States should encourage the media, especially television, radio and
newspapers, to make their services accessible.
10. States should ensure that new computerized information and service systems
offered to the general public are either made initially accessible or are
adapted to be made accessible to persons with disabilities.
11. Organizations of persons with disabilities should be consulted when
developing measures to make information services accessible.
Rule 6. Education
States should recognize the principle of equal primary, secondary and tertiary
educational opportunities for children, youth and adults with disabilities, in
integrated settings. They should ensure that the education of persons with
disabilities is an integral part of the educational system.
1. General educational authorities are responsible for the education of
persons with disabilities in integrated settings. Education for persons with
disabilities should form an integral part of national educational planning,
curriculum development and school organization.
2. Education in mainstream schools presupposes the provision of interpreter
and other appropriate support services. Adequate accessibility and support
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 28
services, designed to meet the needs of persons with different disabilities,
should be provided.
3. Parent groups and organizations of persons with disabilities should be
involved in the education process at all levels.
4. In States where education is compulsory it should be provided to girls and
boys with all kinds and all levels of disabilities, including the most severe.
5. Special attention should be given in the following areas:
(a) Very young children with disabilities;
(b) Pre-school children with disabilities;
(c) Adults with disabilities, particularly women.
6. To accommodate educational provisions for persons with disabilities in the
mainstream, States should:
(a) Have a clearly stated policy, understood and accepted at the school
level and by the wider community;
(b) Allow for curriculum flexibility, addition and adaptation;
(c) Provide for quality materials, ongoing teacher training and support
teachers.
7. Integrated education and community-based programmes should be seen as
complementary approaches in providing cost-effective education and training for
persons with disabilities. National community-based programmes should encourage
communities to use and develop their resources to provide local education to
persons with disabilities.
8. In situations where the general school system does not yet adequately meet
the needs of all persons with disabilities, special education may be considered.
It should be aimed at preparing students for education in the general school
system. The quality of such education should reflect the same standards and
ambitions as general education and should be closely linked to it. At a
minimum, students with disabilities should be afforded the same portion of
educational resources as students without disabilities. States should aim for
the gradual integration of special education services with mainstream education.
It is acknowledged that in some instances special education may currently be
considered to be the most appropriate form of education for some students with
disabilities.
9. Owing to the particular communication needs of deaf and deaf/blind persons,
their education may be more suitably provided in schools for such persons or
special classes and units in mainstream schools. At the initial stage, in
particular, special attention needs to be focused on culturally sensitive
instruction that will result in effective communication skills and maximum
independence for people who are deaf or deaf/blind.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 29
Rule 7. Employment
States should recognize the principle that persons with disabilities must be
empowered to exercise their human rights, particularly in the field of
employment. In both rural and urban areas they must have equal opportunities
for productive and gainful employment in the labour market.
1. Laws and regulations in the employment field must not discriminate against
persons with disabilities and must not raise obstacles to their employment.
2. States should actively support the integration of persons with disabilities
into open employment. This active support could occur through a variety of
measures, such as vocational training, incentive-oriented quota schemes,
reserved or designated employment, loans or grants for small business, exclusive
contracts or priority production rights, tax concessions, contract compliance or
other technical or financial assistance to enterprises employing workers with
disabilities. States should also encourage employers to make reasonable
adjustments to accommodate persons with disabilities.
3. States’ action programmes should include:
(a) Measures to design and adapt workplaces and work premises in such a
way that they become accessible for persons with different disabilities;
(b) Support for the use of new technologies and the development and
production of assistive devices, tools and equipment and measures to facilitate
access to such devices and equipment for persons with disabilities, to enable
them to gain and maintain employment;
(c) Provision of appropriate training and placement and ongoing support
such as personal assistance and interpreter services.
4. States should initiate and support public awareness-raising campaigns
designed to overcome negative attitudes and prejudices concerning workers with
disabilities.
5. In their capacity as employers, States should create favourable conditions
for the employment of persons with disabilities in the public sector.
6. States, workers’ organizations and employers should cooperate to ensure
equitable recruitment and promotion policies, employment conditions, rates of
pay, measures to improve the work environment in order to prevent injuries and
impairments and measures for the rehabilitation of employees who have sustained
employment-related injuries.
7. The aim should always be for persons with disabilities to obtain employment
in the open labour market. For persons with disabilities whose needs cannot be
met in open employment, small units of sheltered or supported employment may be
an alternative. It is important that the quality of such programmes be assessed
in terms of their relevance and sufficiency in providing opportunities for
persons with disabilities to gain employment in the labour market.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 30
8. Measures should be taken to include persons with disabilities in training
and employment programmes in the private and informal sectors.
9. States, workers’ organizations and employers should cooperate with
organizations of persons with disabilities concerning all measures to create
training and employment opportunities, including flexible hours, part-time work,
job-sharing, self-employment and attendant care for persons with disabilities.
Rule 8. Income maintenance and social security
States are responsible for the provision of social security and income
maintenance for persons with disabilities.
1. States should ensure the provision of adequate income support to persons
with disabilities who, owing to disability or disability-related factors, have
temporarily lost or received a reduction in their income or have been denied
employment opportunities. States should ensure that the provision of support
takes into account the costs frequently incurred by persons with disabilities
and their families as a result of the disability.
2. In countries where social security, social insurance or other social
welfare schemes exist or are being developed for the general population, States
should ensure that such systems do not exclude or discriminate against persons
with disabilities.
3. States should also ensure the provision of income support and social
security protection to individuals who undertake the care of a person with a
disability.
4. Social security systems should include incentives to restore the
income-earning capacity of persons with disabilities. Such systems should
provide or contribute to the organization, development and financing of
vocational training. They should also assist with placement services.
5. Social security programmes should also provide incentives for persons with
disabilities to seek employment in order to establish or re-establish their
income-earning capacity.
6. Income support should be maintained as long as the disabling conditions
remain in a manner that does not discourage persons with disabilities from
seeking employment. It should only be reduced or terminated when persons with
disabilities achieve adequate and secure income.
7. States, in countries where social security is to a large extent provided by
the private sector, should encourage local communities, welfare organizations
and families to develop self-help measures and incentives for employment or
employment-related activities for persons with disabilities.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 31
Rule 9. Family life and personal integrity
States should promote the full participation of persons with disabilities in
family life. They should promote their right to personal integrity, and ensure
that laws do not discriminate against persons with disabilities with respect to
sexual relationships, marriage and parenthood.
1. Persons with disabilities should be enabled to live with their families.
States should encourage the inclusion in family counselling of appropriate
modules regarding disability and its effects on family life. Respite-care and
attendant-care services should be made available to families which include a
person with disabilities. States should remove all unnecessary obstacles to
persons who want to foster or adopt a child or adult with disabilities.
2. Persons with disabilities must not be denied the opportunity to experience
their sexuality, have sexual relationships and experience parenthood. Taking
into account that persons with disabilities may experience difficulties in
getting married and setting up a family, States should encourage the
availability of appropriate counselling. Persons with disabilities must have
the same access as others to family-planning methods, as well as to information
in accessible form on the sexual functioning of their bodies.
3. States should promote measures to change negative attitudes towards
marriage, sexuality and parenthood of people with disabilities, especially of
girls and women with disabilities, which still prevail in society. The media
should be encouraged to play an important role in removing such negative
attitudes.
4. Persons with disabilities and their families need to be fully informed
about taking precautions against sexual and other forms of abuse. Persons with
disabilities are particularly vulnerable to abuse in the family, community or
institutions and need to be educated on how to avoid the occurrence of abuse,
recognize when abuse has occurred and report on such acts.
Rule 10. Culture
States will ensure that persons with disabilities are integrated into and can
participate in cultural activities on an equal basis.
1. States should ensure that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to
utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential, not only for their
own benefit, but also for the enrichment of their community, be they in urban or
rural areas. Examples of such activities are dance, music, literature, theatre,
plastic arts, painting and sculpture. Particularly in developing countries,
emphasis should be placed on traditional and contemporary art forms, such as
puppetry, recitation and story-telling.
2. States should promote the accessibility to and availability of places for
cultural performances and services, such as theatres, museums, cinemas and
libraries, to persons with disabilities.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 32
3. States should initiate the development and use of special technical
arrangements to make literature, films and theatre accessible to persons with
disabilities.
Rule 11. Recreation and sports
States will take measures to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal
opportunities for recreation and sports.
1. States should initiate measures to make places for recreation and sports,
hotels, beaches, sports arenas, gym halls etc. accessible to persons with
disabilities. Such measures should encompass support for staff in recreation
and sports programmes, including projects to develop methods of accessibility,
and participation, information and training programmes.
2. Tourist authorities, travel agencies, hotels, voluntary organizations and
others involved in organizing recreational activities or travel opportunities
should offer their services to all, taking into account the special needs of
persons with disabilities. Suitable training should be provided to assist that
process.
3. Sports organizations should be encouraged to develop opportunities for
participation by persons with disabilities in sports activities. In some cases,
accessibility measures could be enough to open up opportunities for
participation. In other cases, special arrangements or special games would be
needed. States should support the participation of persons with disabilities in
national and international events.
4. Persons with disabilities participating in sports activities should have
access to instruction and training of the same quality as other participants.
5. Organizers of sports and recreation should consult with organizations of
persons with disabilities when developing their services for persons with
disabilities.
Rule 12. Religion
States will encourage measures for equal participation by persons with
disabilities in the religious life of their communities.
1. States should encourage, in consultation with religious authorities,
measures to eliminate discrimination and make religious activities accessible to
persons with disabilities.
2. States should encourage the distribution of information on disability
matters to religious institutions and organizations. States should also
encourage religious authorities to include information on disability policies in
the training for religious professions, as well as in religious education
programmes.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 33
3. They should also encourage the accessibility of religious literature to
persons with sensory impairments.
4. States and/or religious organizations should consult with organizations of
persons with disabilities when developing measures for equal participation in
religious activities.
III. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
Rule 13. Information and research
States assume the ultimate responsibility for the collection and dissemination
of information on the living conditions of persons with disabilities and promote
comprehensive research on all aspects, including obstacles which affect the
lives of persons with disabilities.
1. States should, at regular intervals, collect gender-specific statistics and
other information concerning the living conditions of persons with disabilities.
Such data collection could be conducted in conjunction with national censuses
and household surveys and could be undertaken in close collaboration, inter
alia, with universities, research institutes and organizations of persons with
disabilities. The data collection should include questions on programmes and
services and their use.
2. States should consider establishing a data bank on disability, which would
include statistics on available services and programmes as well as on the
different groups of persons with disabilities. They should bear in mind the
need to protect individual privacy and personal integrity.
3. States should initiate and support programmes of research on social,
economic and participation issues that affect the lives of persons with
disabilities and their families. Such research should include studies on the
causes, types and frequencies of disabilities, the availability and efficacy of
existing programmes and the need for development and evaluation of services and
support measures.
4. States should develop and adopt terminology and criteria for the conduct of
national surveys, in cooperation with organizations of persons with
disabilities.
5. States should facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in
data collection and research. To undertake such research States should
particularly encourage the recruitment of qualified persons with disabilities.
6. States should support the exchange of research findings and experiences.
7. States should take measures to disseminate information and knowledge on
disability to all political and administration levels within national, regional
and local spheres.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 34
Rule 14. Policy-making and planning
States will ensure that disability aspects are included in all relevant
policy-making and national planning.
1. States should initiate and plan adequate policies for persons with
disabilities at the national level, and stimulate and support action at regional
and local levels.
2. States should involve organizations of persons with disabilities in all
decision-making relating to plans and programmes concerning persons with
disabilities or affecting their economic and social status.
3. The needs and concerns of persons with disabilities should be incorporated
into general development plans and not be treated separately.
4. The ultimate responsibility of States for the situation of persons with
disabilities does not relieve others of their responsibility. Anyone in charge
of services, activities or the provision of information in society should be
encouraged to accept responsibility for making such programmes available to
persons with disabilities.
5. States should facilitate the development by local communities of programmes
and measures for persons with disabilities. One way of doing this could be to
develop manuals or check-lists and provide training programmes for local staff.
Rule 15. Legislation
States have a responsibility to create the legal bases for measures to achieve
the objectives of full participation and equality for persons with disabilities.
1. National legislation, embodying the rights and obligations of citizens,
should include the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities. States
are under an obligation to enable persons with disabilities to exercise their
rights, including their human, civil and political rights, on an equal basis
with other citizens. States must ensure that organizations of persons with
disabilities are involved in the development of national legislation concerning
the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as in the ongoing evaluation of
that legislation.
2. Legislative action may be needed to remove conditions which may adversely
affect the lives of persons with disabilities, including harassment and
victimization. Any discriminatory provisions against persons with disabilities
must be eliminated. National legislation should provide for appropriate
sanctions in case of violations of the principles of non-discrimination.
3. National legislation concerning persons with disabilities may appear in two
different forms. The rights and obligations may be incorporated in general
legislation or contained in special legislation. Special legislation for
persons with disabilities may be established in several ways:
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 35
(a) By enacting separate legislation, dealing exclusively with disability
matters;
(b) By including disability matters within legislation on particular
topics;
(c) By mentioning persons with disabilities specifically in the texts that
serve to interpret existing legislation.
A combination of those different approaches might be desirable. Affirmative
action provisions may also be considered.
4. States may consider establishing formal statutory complaints mechanisms in
order to protect the interests of persons with disabilities.
Rule 16. Economic policies
States have the financial responsibility for national programmes and measures to
create equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
1. States should include disability matters in the regular budgets of all
national, regional and local government bodies.
2. States, non-governmental organizations and other interested bodies should
interact to determine the most effective ways of supporting projects and
measures relevant to persons with disabilities.
3. States should consider the use of economic measures (loans, tax exemptions,
earmarked grants, special funds, and so on) to stimulate and support equal
participation by persons with disabilities in society.
4. In many States it may be advisable to establish a disability development
fund, which could support various pilot projects and self-help programmes at the
grass-roots level.
Rule 17. Coordination of work
States are responsible for the establishment and strengthening of national
coordinating committees, or similar bodies, to serve as a national focal point
on disability matters.
1. The national coordinating committee or similar bodies should be permanent
and based on legal as well as appropriate administrative regulation.
2. A combination of representatives of private and public organizations is
most likely to achieve an intersectoral and multidisciplinary composition.
Representatives could be drawn from concerned government ministries,
organizations of persons with disabilities and non-governmental organizations.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 36
3. Organizations of persons with disabilities should have considerable
influence in the national coordinating committee in order to ensure proper
feedback of their concerns.
4. The national coordinating committee should be provided with sufficient
autonomy and resources to fulfil its responsibilities in relation to its
decision-making capacities. It should report to the highest governmental level.
Rule 18. Organizations of persons with disabilities
States should recognize the right of the organizations of persons with
disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at national, regional and
local levels. States should also recognize the advisory role of organizations
of persons with disabilities in decision-making on disability matters.
1. States should encourage and support economically and in other ways the
formation and strengthening of organizations of persons with disabilities,
family members and/or advocates. States should recognize that those
organizations have a role to play in the development of disability policy.
2. States should establish ongoing communication with organizations of persons
with disabilities and ensure their participation in the development of
government policies.
3. The role of organizations of persons with disabilities could be to identify
needs and priorities, to participate in the planning, implementation and
evaluation of services and measures concerning the lives of persons with
disabilities, and to contribute to public awareness and to advocate change.
4. As instruments of self-help, organizations of persons with disabilities
provide and promote opportunities for the development of skills in various
fields, mutual support among members and information sharing.
5. Organizations of persons with disabilities could perform their advisory
role in many different ways such as having permanent representation on boards of
government-funded agencies, serving on public commissions and providing expert
knowledge on different projects.
6. The advisory role of organizations of persons with disabilities should be
ongoing in order to develop and deepen the exchange of views and information
between the State and the organizations.
7. Organizations should be permanently represented on the national
coordinating committee or similar bodies.
8. The role of local organizations of persons with disabilities should be
developed and strengthened to ensure that they influence matters at the
community level.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 37
Rule 19. Personnel training
States are responsible for ensuring the adequate training of personnel, at all
levels, involved in the planning and provision of programmes and services
concerning persons with disabilities.
1. States should ensure that all authorities providing services in the
disability field give adequate training to their personnel.
2. In the training of professionals in the disability field, as well as in the
provision of information on disability in general training programmes, the
principle of full participation and equality should be appropriately reflected.
3. States should develop training programmes in consultation with
organizations of persons with disabilities, and persons with disabilities should
be involved as teachers, instructors or advisers in staff training programmes.
4. The training of community workers is of great strategic importance,
particularly in developing countries. It should involve persons with
disabilities and include the development of appropriate values, competence and
technologies as well as skills which can be practised by persons with
disabilities, their parents, families and members of the community.
Rule 20. National monitoring and evaluation of
disability programmes in the implementation of
the Standard Rules
States are responsible for the continuous monitoring and evaluation of the
implementation of national programmes and services concerning the equalization
of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
1. States should periodically and systematically evaluate national disability
programmes and disseminate both the bases and the results of the evaluations.
2. States should develop and adopt terminology and criteria for the evaluation
of disability-related programmes and services.
3. Such criteria and terminology should be developed in close cooperation with
organizations of persons with disabilities from the earliest conceptual and
planning stages.
4. States should participate in international cooperation in order to develop
common standards for national evaluation in the disability field. States should
encourage national coordinating committees to participate also.
5. The evaluation of various programmes in the disability field should be
built in at the planning stage, so that the overall efficacy in fulfilling their
policy objectives can be evaluated.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 38
Rule 21. Technical and economic cooperation
States, both industrialized and developing, have the responsibility to cooperate
in and take measures for the improvement of the living conditions of persons
with disabilities in developing countries.
1. Measures to achieve the equalization of opportunities of persons with
disabilities, including refugees with disabilities, should be integrated into
general development programmes.
2. Such measures must be integrated into all forms of technical and economic
cooperation, bilateral and multilateral, governmental and non-governmental.
States should bring up disability issues in discussions on such cooperation with
their counterparts.
3. When planning and reviewing programmes of technical and economic
cooperation, special attention should be given to the effects of such programmes
on the situation of persons with disabilities. It is of the utmost importance
that persons with disabilities and their organizations are consulted on any
development projects designed for persons with disabilities. They should be
directly involved in the development, implementation and evaluation of such
projects.
4. Priority areas for technical and economic cooperation should include:
(a) The development of human resources through the development of skills,
abilities and potentials of persons with disabilities and the initiation of
employment-generating activities for and of persons with disabilities;
(b) The development and dissemination of appropriate disability-related
technologies and know-how.
5. States are also encouraged to support the formation and strengthening of
organizations of persons with disabilities.
6. States should take measures to improve the knowledge of disability issues
among staff involved at all levels in the administration of technical and
economic cooperation programmes.
Rule 22. International cooperation
States will participate actively in international cooperation concerning
policies for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
1. Within the United Nations, its specialized agencies and other concerned
intergovernmental organizations, States should participate in the development of
disability policy.
2. Whenever appropriate, States should introduce disability aspects in general
negotiations concerning standards, information exchange, development programmes
etc.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 39
3. States should encourage and support the exchange of knowledge and
experience between:
(a) Non-governmental organizations concerned with disability issues;
(b) Research institutions and individual researchers involved in
disability issues;
(c) Representatives of field programmes and of professional groups in the
disability field;
(d) Organizations of persons with disabilities;
(e) National coordinating committees.
4. States should ensure that the United Nations and its specialized agencies,
as well as all intergovernmental and interparliamentary bodies, at global and
regional levels, include in their work the global and regional organizations of
persons with disabilities.
IV. MONITORING MECHANISM
1. The purpose of a monitoring mechanism is to further the effective
implementation of the Standard Rules. It will assist each State in assessing
its level of implementation of the Rules and in measuring its progress. The
monitoring should identify obstacles and suggest suitable measures which would
contribute to the successful implementation of the Rules. The monitoring
mechanism will recognize the economic, social and cultural features existing in
individual States. An important element should also be the provision of
advisory services and the exchange of experience and information between States.
2. The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with
Disabilities shall be monitored within the framework of the sessions of the
Commission for Social Development. A Special Rapporteur with relevant and
extensive experience of disability issues and international organizations shall
be appointed, if necessary, funded by extrabudgetary resources, for three years
to monitor the implementation of the Standard Rules.
3. International organizations of persons with disabilities having
consultative status with the Economic and Social Council and organizations
representing persons with disabilities who have not yet formed their own
organizations should be invited to create among themselves a panel of experts,
on which organizations of persons with disabilities shall have a majority,
taking into account the different kinds of disabilities and necessary equitable
geographical distribution, to be consulted by the Special Rapporteur and, when
appropriate, by the Secretariat.
4. The panel of experts will be encouraged by the Special Rapporteur to
review, advise and provide feedback and suggestions on the promotion,
implementation and monitoring of the Standard Rules.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 40
5. The Special Rapporteur shall send a set of questions to States, entities
within the United Nations system, and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities. The set of
questions should address implementation plans for the Standard Rules in States.
The questions should be selective in nature and cover a number of specific rules
for in-depth evaluation. In preparing the questions the Special Rapporteur
should consult with the panel of experts and the Secretariat.
6. The Special Rapporteur shall seek to establish a direct dialogue not only
with States but also with local non-governmental organizations, seeking their
views and comments on any information intended to be included in the reports.
The Special Rapporteur shall provide advisory services on the implementation and
monitoring of the Standard Rules and assistance in the preparation of replies to
the sets of questions.
7. The Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the United
Nations Office at Vienna, as the United Nations focal point on disability
issues, the United Nations Development Programme and other entities and
mechanisms within the United Nations system, such as the regional commissions
and specialized agencies and inter-agency meetings, shall cooperate with the
Special Rapporteur in the implementation and monitoring of the Standard Rules at
the national level.
8. The Special Rapporteur, assisted by the Secretariat, shall prepare reports
for submission to the Commission for Social Development, at its thirty-fourth
and thirty-fifth sessions. In preparing such reports, the Rapporteur should
consult with the panel of experts.
9. States should encourage national coordinating committees or similar bodies
to participate in implementation and monitoring. As the focal points on
disability matters at the national level, they should be encouraged to establish
procedures to coordinate the monitoring of the Standard Rules. Organizations of
persons with disabilities should be encouraged to be actively involved in the
monitoring of the process at all levels.
10. Should extrabudgetary resources be identified, one or more positions of
interregional adviser on the Standard Rules should be created to provide direct
services to States, including:
(a) The organization of national and regional training seminars on the
content of the Standard Rules;
(b) The development of guidelines to assist in strategies for
implementation of the Standard Rules;
(c) Dissemination of information about best practices concerning
implementation of the Standard Rules.
11. At its thirty-fourth session, the Commission for Social Development should
establish an open-ended working group to examine the Special Rapporteur’s report
and make recommendations on how to improve the application of the Standard
Rules. In examining the Special Rapporteur’s report, the Commission, through
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 41
its open-ended working group, shall consult international organizations of
persons with disabilities and specialized agencies, according to rules 71 and 76
of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and
Social Council.
12. At its session following the end of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate, the
Commission should examine the possibility of either renewing that mandate,
appointing a new Special Rapporteur or considering another monitoring mechanism,
and should make appropriate recommendations to the Economic and Social Council.
13. States should be encouraged to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability in order to further the implementation of the Standard Rules.
A/48/627
English
Page 42
DRAFT RESOLUTION III
International Day of Disabled Persons
The General Assembly,
Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 37/52 of
3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons, 25/ and 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,
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;
25/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 43
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.
DRAFT RESOLUTION IV
Implementation of the International
Plan of Action on Ageing
The General Assembly,
Mindful of the growing concern of the international community with the
issues related to population and individual ageing,
Noting with satisfaction the clear conceptual framework of the United
Nations programme on ageing, revealed in the United Nations Principles for Older
Persons, 26/ the global targets on ageing for the year 2001 27/ and the
Proclamation on Ageing, 28/ to further the implementation of the
International Plan of Action on Ageing, 29/
Recalling its resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992, by which it decided to
observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/22 of
27 July 1993, by which the Council invited Member States to strengthen their
national mechanisms on ageing, inter alia, to enable them to serve as national
focal points for the preparation and observance of the International Year of
Older Persons,
26/ Resolution 46/91, annex.
27/ See A/47/339, sect. III.
28/ Resolution 47/5, annex.
29/ See Report of the World Assembly on Ageing, Vienna,
26 July-6 August 1982 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.82.I.16),
chap. VI.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 44
Noting the recent measures aimed at consolidating the social and economic
activities of the United Nations,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on
the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan
of Action on Ageing; 30/
2. Endorses the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-
General on the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the
International Plan of Action on Ageing, in the form of global and national
targets on ageing for the year 2001, aimed at streamlining the implementation of
the Plan of Action in its second decade;
3. Calls upon the Secretary-General to maintain the integrity and the
identity of the United Nations programme on ageing;
4. Commends the International Institute on Ageing on its training
programme and related activities, and invites national, regional and
international organizations to cooperate closely with the Institute;
5. Urges the United Nations, Member States and non-governmental
organizations to support the African Society of Gerontology in developing and
implementing a regional programme of activities on ageing;
6. Invites interested Member States, non-governmental organizations and
research centres to support the activities of the United Nations programme on
ageing, particularly research activities aimed at suggesting policy options to
enhance contributions by the elderly to development;
7. Invites Governments, non-governmental organizations and United Nations
organizations and bodies concerned with ageing to submit to the Secretary-
General their proposals for the preparations for and observance of the
International Year of Older Persons;
8. Calls upon the Secretary-General to draft a conceptual framework of a
programme for the preparation and observance of the International Year of Older
Persons and to submit it, through the Commission for Social Development at its
thirty-fourth session in 1995, to the General Assembly for consideration at its
fiftieth session in 1995.
30/ E/CN.5/1993/7.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 45
DRAFT RESOLUTION V
Towards full integration of persons with disabilities in society:
a continuing world programme of action
The General Assembly,
Recalling all its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 37/52 and
37/53 of 3 December 1982, 46/96 of 16 December 1991 and 47/88 of
16 December 1992, and taking note of Economic and Social Council decision
1992/276 of 30 July 1992 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/48 of
3 March 1992, 31/
Noting the importance of developing and carrying out concrete long-term
strategies for the full implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons 32/ beyond the United Nations Decade of Disabled
Persons, with the aim of achieving a society for all by the year 2000,
Welcoming the unreserved reaffirmation in the Vienna Declaration and
Programme of Action on Human Rights 33/ of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of persons with disabilities,
Reaffirming that the efforts of both the developing and the developed
countries are indispensable in mobilizing the world’s attention and resources to
address the problems of persons with disabilities,
Aware of the major obstacles to the implementation of the World Programme
of Action concerning Disabled Persons, foremost among them an inadequate
allocation of resources,
1. Reaffirms the continuing validity and value of the World Programme of
Action concerning Disabled Persons, which provides a firm and innovative
framework for disability-related issues;
2. Reiterates the responsibility of Governments for removing or
facilitating the removal of barriers and obstacles to the full integration of
persons with disabilities into society, and supports their efforts in developing
national policies to reach specific objectives;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to give higher priority and
visibility to disability issues within the work programme of the United Nations
system by:
31/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1992,
Supplement No. 2 (E/1992/22), chap. II, sect. A.
32/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).
33/ Report of the World Conference on Human Rights, Vienna,
14-25 June 1993 (A/CONF.157/24 (Part I)), chap. III.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 46
(a) Integrating disability issues into the policies, programmes and
projects of the specialized agencies on a broader scale and with higher
priority, and asking all the specialized agencies to report on their engagement
in the disability field;
(b) Asking the United Nations Development Programme to review how a
disability component can be incorporated into all its reconstruction programmes
on a continuing basis;
(c) Urging the finalization of the ongoing work on the creation of a
disability index based on the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities; 34/
(d) Encouraging the activities of the United Nations Children’s Fund in
promoting prevention and early detection, public awareness and community-based
rehabilitation in respect of childhood disabilities;
(e) Publishing a manual on the integration of disability issues into
national planning and development projects;
(f) Continuing the work of collecting statistical data about disability
matters and finalizing the development of a global disability indicator;
(g) Pursuing his efforts to establish a panel of persons with wide
experience in the field of disability, including persons with disabilities, and
with due regard to equitable geographical representation, to advise him on
disability matters;
(h) Urging Governments to integrate, where possible, disability components
into technical assistance and technical cooperation programmes, including the
exchange of experience in the disability field under the auspices of the
competent specialized agencies;
4. Encourages the consideration during major forthcoming events,
including the International Conference on Population and Development, to be held
in 1994, the International Year of the Family, 1994, the Fourth World Conference
on Women, to be held in 1995, and the World Summit for Social Development, to be
held in 1995, of disability issues relevant to their themes;
5. Recommends that the regional commissions and other competent regional
organizations be fully utilized to explore the best ways and means to improve
the specific situation of persons with disabilities in each region;
6. Invites Member States and the private sector, including competent
non-governmental organizations, to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability;
34/ See draft resolution II above, annex.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 47
7. Invites Member States and other donors to pay close attention to the
increasing number of persons with disabilities as a consequence of poverty and
disease, wars and civil strife and demographic and environmental factors,
including natural disasters and catastrophic accidents;
8. Commends the launching of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 1993-2002, and the adoption of the Proclamation on the Full
Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific
Region 35/ by the intergovernmental meeting to launch the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993-2002, convened by the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific at Beijing from 1 to 5 December 1992;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at
its forty-ninth session on relevant developments concerning the present
resolution and in the context of his report on the development of a plan of
action to implement the long-term strategy to further the implementation of the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons.
DRAFT RESOLUTION VI
World Summit for Social Development
The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 47/92 of 16 December 1992, by which it decided to
convene a World Summit for Social Development, agreed on the objectives and core
issues of the Summit and, inter alia, established a Preparatory Committee,
Recalling also the deliberations of the Economic and Social Council during
the high-level segment of its substantive session of 1993 on the question of the
World Summit for Social Development and the deliberations of the Commission for
Social Development at its thirty-third session, 36/
Recalling further the decision taken by the Preparatory Committee at its
organizational session to convene the World Summit for Social Development at
Copenhagen on 11 and 12 March 1995, preceded by a meeting of personal
representatives of heads of State or Government or other appropriate high-level
representatives specifically designated by Governments, from 6 to 10 March 1995, 37/
35/ See E/ESCAP/902, annex I.
36/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993,
Supplement No. 4 (E/1993/24), chap. II.
37/ See Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 24 (A/48/24), annex II, decision 9.
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 48
Considering that the World Summit for Social Development and its
preparatory process should strengthen efforts by all countries to promote
policies for the enhancement of social integration in all societies, the
alleviation and reduction of poverty and the expansion of productive employment,
Considering also the contributions of non-governmental organizations,
Taking into account the need to facilitate the work of the substantive
sessions of the Preparatory Committee,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the summary prepared by the President
of the Economic and Social Council on the deliberations of the Council during
the high-level segment of its substantive session of 1993 38/ and of
Commission for Social Development resolution 33/1 of 17 February 1993; 39/
2. Also takes note with appreciation of the report of the Preparatory
Committee for the World Summit for Social Development on its organizational
session; 40/
3. Calls upon all States, in accordance with paragraph 8 of General
Assembly resolution 47/92, to appoint personal representatives of the heads of
State or Government or other appropriate high-level representatives to
participate in the first session of the Preparatory Committee;
4. Invites all States to contribute generously to the voluntary Trust
Fund established in accordance with General Assembly resolution 47/92 for the
additional activities required for the preparation and holding of the World
Summit for Social Development, particularly the participation of the least
developed countries in the Summit and its preparatory process;
5. Also invites all States to set up national committees or other
arrangements for the World Summit for Social Development and to hold meetings
for public debate on the core issues to be addressed by the Summit;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to make the necessary provisions,
within existing resources, so that the Preparatory Committee may, if it so
decides:
(a) Establish, during its first session, a working group of the whole to
meet in parallel with the plenary for a duration of one week;
(b) Establish, during its second session, a working group of the whole to
meet in parallel with the plenary for a duration of two weeks;
38/ Ibid., Supplement No. 3 (A/48/3/Rev.1), chap. II.B.
39/ Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1993, Supplement
No. 4 (E/1993/24), chap. I.D.
40/ Official Records of the General Assembly, Forty-eighth Session,
Supplement No. 24 (A/48/24).
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 49
(c) Establish, during its third session, two working groups to meet in
parallel with the plenary for a duration of two weeks;
7. Calls upon the Secretary-General to report to the Preparatory
Committee at its first session on the implementation of the programme of public
information for the World Summit for Social Development;
8. Invites the organs, organizations and programmes of the United Nations
system and other intergovernmental organizations, in particular the United
Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the United
Nations Population Fund, the regional commissions and competent regional
organizations, the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat), the
International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund to inform the Preparatory Committee at its first
session about their contributions to the Summit and its preparatory process;
9. Calls upon the non-governmental organizations in consultative status
with the United Nations and those accredited to the Summit and its preparatory
process to contribute fully to the work of the Preparatory Committee and to the
Summit;
10. Requests the Preparatory Committee to report to the General Assembly
at its forty-ninth session on the progress of work of the Committee and the
preparations for the Summit.
* * *
29. The Third Committee also recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of
the following draft decision:
Documents considered by the General Assembly in connection
with the question of social development, including questions
relating to the world social situation and to youth, ageing,
disabled persons and the family
The General Assembly takes note of the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Guiding
Principles for Developmental Social Welfare Policies and Programmes in the Near
Future (A/48/56-E/1993/6);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the International Year of the
Family (A/48/293);
/...
A/48/627
English
Page 50
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (A/48/462);
(d) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the regional
commissions on the World Summit for Social Development (A/48/476).
-----