UN Human Rights Treaties

United Nations A/AC.265/2003/2
General Assembly Distr.: General
7 April 2003
Original: English
03-31204 (E) 130503
*0331204*
Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on Protection
and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity
of Persons with Disabilities
New York, 16-27 June 2003
Overview of issues and trends related to the advancement
of persons with disabilities
Report of the Secretary-General
Executive summary: towards progress in equalization of opportunities in the
new century
The present report, which reviews and assesses 20 years of international
cooperation related to the advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of
development, should be read in conjunction with the report of the Secretary-General
containing the findings of the fourth five-year review and appraisal of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons (A/58/61-E/2003/5). In his
review, the Secretary-General discusses a strategic framework for the development
and advancement of persons with disabilities, and presents recommendations on
normative issues, policy options, and substantive planning and evaluation
considerations for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of
development.
The present report examines instruments and structures that have been
developed to further implement the full participation and equality goals of the
Programme of Action and to promote the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The report describes new initiatives
related to persons with disabilities, particularly the proposal to elaborate a
convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in the context of development,
as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/168. A basic lesson of the
review is that a majority of reporting Governments have elaborated a national
policy or legislation on persons with disabilities. An important task for policy
development in the new century becomes reinforcing the disability perspective in
mainstream development with reference to the “new universe of disability” and the
emergence of policy concern with social inclusion, life sphere approaches to

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disability and the promotion of opportunities, on the basis of equality, to participate
in social life and development. The review suggests that policy development would
be facilitated by progress in elaborating a comprehensive and integrated
international instrument to promote and protect the rights of persons with
disabilities in the context of development. Policy development and evaluation from
the disability perspective would be further strengthened through improvements in
data and statistics on disability, which would also facilitate international
comparisons of prevalence of disability in populations and with reference to social
and economic data sets.
Contents
Paragraphs Page
I. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3
II. Trends in policies and programmes from the disability perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–29 3
A. Disability perspective on development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–7 3
B. Developmental approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities . . 8–11 5
C. Rights of persons with disabilities: the Standard Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12–17 6
D. Rights of persons with disabilities: treatment in other international
instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18–20 7
E. Measuring, monitoring and evaluation of the situation of persons with
disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21–24 9
F. Regional cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 10
G. Universal design and equalization of opportunities for all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26–28 10
H. Priorities for the further equalization of opportunities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 11

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I. Introduction
1. In its resolution 56/115, the General Assembly endorsed the view that the
fourth five-year review and appraisal of the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons (A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1) should review and assess trends in
instruments, policies and programmes from the disability perspective in the light of
20 years of international cooperation in the field of disability. The present report
examines the extent to which structures are in place and identifies areas in which
further action is required to further implement the goals of the Programme of
Action — full participation, and equality — in the context of development. It
examines trends in policies and programmes from the disability perspective. An
additional report will review progress in furthering the equalization of opportunities
by, for and with persons with disabilities with special reference to the priorities
identified by the Assembly in its resolution 52/82, for action to equalize
opportunities, i.e., accessibility, social services and safety nets, and employment and
sustainable livelihoods. A further report will analyse issues and trends related to
advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of development.
II. Trends in policies and programmes from the
disability perspective
2. With the adoption of the Programme of Action by the General Assembly in
1982, the international community obtained a policy framework for developmental
approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities. The goals of the
Programme of Action, “full participation and equality”, reflect the strong
commitment of the international community to the human rights of persons with
disabilities. Trends in the implementation of the Programme of Action during the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992) (see Assembly resolution
37/53) through the third review and appraisal of the Programme of Action, which
was conducted in 1997, are reviewed below.
A. Disability perspective on development
3. The Programme of Action defines equality for persons with disabilities on par
with opportunities available to the entire population. Parity is considered to be a
dynamic concept, which changes as societies develop. The Programme of Action
thus provides the basis for a “disability perspective” on development, in contrast
with earlier approaches, in which persons with disabilities were characterized as
“vulnerable” and disability as a problem to be addressed by medical care,
rehabilitation and social welfare services. The value proposition of the social
welfare approach is to effect changes in persons with disabilities so that they can
better fit into “normal” social and economic structures. The disability perspective on
development focuses on persons with disabilities as agents and beneficiaries of
development of the societies in which they live. A key concern of developmental
approaches to disability is promotion of environmental accessibility — in physical
environments, in information and communication environments, and in institutional
arrangements — to further equalization of opportunities for all.

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4. The three objectives of the Programme of Action — prevention of disabling
conditions, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities — represent the attempt
of the international community to blend traditional disability concerns with the
emerging disability perspective on development. Equalization of opportunities is
recognized as the process of enhancing accessibility to the general system of society.
A key component of enhancing accessibility is promoting the full and effective
participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making, which, as the
Programme of Action notes, can be advanced by assisting in the establishment and
development of organizations of disabled persons and by initiating direct contacts
with those organizations and providing channels for them to influence governmental
policies and decisions that concern them.
5. The Programme of Action represents movement towards both a broad human
rights perspective and an environmental accessibility perspective. The Programme
of Action recognizes the applicability of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(Assembly resolution 217 A (III)) and the International Covenants on Human Rights
(Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI)) to persons with disabilities and provides
guidance on promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.1 While
environmental approaches focus on physical, technical and institutional barriers,
human rights approaches focus on rights to which all people, regardless of disability
or non-disabled status, are entitled.2
6. The Programme of Action equates the equalization of opportunities with the
promotion of accessibility in the environment in terms of facilities, communications
and livelihoods. The first time access is mentioned in the Programme of Action is in
conjunction with the definition of handicap, in the section entitled “Definitions”, as
follows: “Handicap is therefore a function of the relationship between disabled
persons and their environment. It occurs when they encounter cultural, physical or
social barriers, which prevent their access to the various systems of society that are
available to other citizens. Thus, handicap is the loss or limitation of opportunities
to take part in the community on an equal level with others.”
7. Accessibility is central to the realization of equalization of opportunities and
represents an approach to reversing exclusion; general systems of society become
accessible to all by the removal of barriers and the promotion of human rights.
Access is not an act or a state but freedom to enter, to approach, to communicate
with, to pass to and from or to make use of a situation.3 A review of the literature
indicates that several approaches have been offered to assess systematically
accessibility of environments in both the disability and health-care fields.4 From the
human rights perspective, ensuring accessible environments requires full and
effective participation by persons with disabilities in both policy and programmelevel
decisions. It also requires the involvement of persons with disabilities in
decision-making related to development, in contributing to development efforts and
in equal sharing of the results of development. Disability issues are not the concern
of a specific group; they are an essential prerequisite for advancing the human rights
of all people and the comprehensive and integrated development of the societies in
which they live. That is the approach of the Programme of Action and it has been
reaffirmed in the outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits in the
economic and social fields (see A/52/351, para. 18; and A/56/169 and Corr.1,
paras. 24-26).

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B. Developmental approaches to the advancement of persons
with disabilities
8. The proclamation by the Assembly of the period 1983-1992 as the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons provided a time frame in which to promote the
implementation of the objectives of the Programme of Action, i.e., prevention,
rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities. Those three objectives reflect a
blend of traditional disability concerns with environmental variables in a broad
human rights framework. The decided focus of the Programme of Action is on
development participation and equality, with special attention to policy, institutional
and structural issues.
9. The experience of the Decade suggests that lead time is required to translate
international normative considerations into country-level strategies, policies and
programmes. The evaluation report of the Secretary-General at the mid-point of the
Decade (A/42/561)5 submitted recommendations on three principal issue clusters:
(a) policy options and priority areas for further action; (b) institutional arrangements
and coordination mechanisms; and (c) resources to support the implementation of
the objectives of the Programme of Action. Based on its consideration of the
findings and recommendations of the report, the Assembly adopted resolution 42/58,
in which it invited Member States (a) to reinforce national committees on disability,
or similar institutional mechanisms; (b) to incorporate projects related to persons
with disabilities in national development strategies and plans and to encourage real
involvement of persons with disabilities; and (c) to accord high priority to projects
on prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities in bilateral and
multilateral assistance activities.
10. Developmental approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities
were evident by the mid-point of the Decade in both policies and practice. Disability
issues were being introduced in efforts aimed at the general population, with
emphasis on equalization of opportunities.6 Disability and rehabilitation efforts were
moving beyond traditional medical concerns and were being incorporated in
institutional development and capacity-building activities.7 Resource scarcity
remained a problem but resources involved not only finances but national personnel
and appropriate technologies (see A/42/561, para. 47 (c)). Organizations of persons
with disabilities as well as organizations concerned with disability had become
important factors in promoting the Programme of Action and contributing to its
implementation at all levels. Common concepts, practical tools for data collection
and statistics on persons with disabilities, based on national censuses and surveys,
had become available and were being used to identify and assess demographic and
socio-economic trends concerning the prevalence of disability.8 The availability of
statistics on persons with disabilities contributed to the recognition of the need to
establish international standards on disability statistics, which would reveal both
commonalities and differences in national statistical work, and elaborate an
appropriate set of indicators to monitor implementation of the Programme of Action
and allow comparisons between the different situations of persons with disabilities
and the non-disabled.9 The handicapping facets of the environment — in terms of
communications, movement and loss of opportunities to participate in social and
economic life — were increasingly recognized as being critical to the elimination of
barriers to the equalization of opportunity.10

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11. In his evaluation report on the achievements of the Decade (A/47/415), the
Secretary-General noted that the Programme of Action had provided a policy
framework for the advancement of persons with disabilities in the context of
development in a broad human rights framework. The experiences of the Decade
had laid the foundations for disability-sensitive strategies, policies and programmes
based on the principles of full participation and equality. The report also noted that
disability was closely linked to social and economic factors, which had impacted on
progress in furthering the objectives of the Programme of Action. Its objectives
could not be reached in the foreseeable future in the absence of an expansion of
international cooperation programmes — both multilateral and bilateral — beyond
those available during the Decade. The report also suggested a need to reinterpret
disability in the light of a number of significant developments during the second half
of the Decade, including rapid technological changes in both information,
communications and medical science, growing recognition that disability was of
concern to the entire population, and the need to move beyond group-specific
approaches based on care and protection.
C. Rights of persons with disabilities: the Standard Rules
12. A particular — but not extensively documented — achievement of the Decade
was the paradigmatic shift from the view that disability was a condition that
required a cure, which had resulted in policies of exclusion and institutionalization.
During the Decade, advocates had contributed to shaping a new understanding of
living with a disability — which could affect anyone in the course of a “normal
human life cycle”11 — and the need for society to accept and accommodate that
condition. Beginning with the adoption of the Programme of Action and its focus on
the human rights of persons with disabilities, the emergence of concern with
international norms and standards relating to disability carried with it the potential
of law to transform an “almost universally pejorative”12 cultural resistance to the
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
13. The mid-Decade meeting of experts to evaluate its achievements recommended
that the Assembly convene a special conference on the rights of persons with
disabilities, with the mandate to elucidate such rights and to draft an international
convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against disabled
persons, to be ratified by States by the end of the Decade, in 1992 (see A/42/561,
para. 14). Drafts of a convention were submitted to the Assembly at its forty-second
and forty-fourth sessions, but summary records indicate that it was felt that more
study was required (see A/C.3/42/SR.16, 17 and 19; and A/C.3/44/SR.16 and 20).
14. In response to that dialogue, the Assembly reiterated its view that the second
half of the Decade should place special emphasis on the equalization of
opportunities for persons with disabilities (see Assembly resolution 44/70, para. 2).
In its resolution 1990/26, the Economic and Social Council authorized the
Commission for Social Development to initiate work on the elaboration of nonbinding
standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with
disabilities. In its resolution 1991/9, the Council welcomed the initiative of the
Commission to elaborate standard technical rules on the equalization of
opportunities for disabled persons. The work, which was funded by voluntary
resources and included technical meetings with the participation of experts from all
regions, drew upon the experience of countries during the Decade and on both

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general international human rights instruments and those related to the rights of
persons with disabilities. Those efforts resulted in the decision of the Assembly to
adopt in its resolution 48/96 the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities.
15. The value proposition of the Standard Rules, as stated in Assembly resolution
48/96, annex, paragraph 15, is “to ensure that girls, boys, women and men with
disabilities, as members of their societies, may exercise the same rights and
obligations as others”. A basic premise of the Standard Rules is that States should
“take appropriate action” to remove obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities
from exercising their rights and freedoms and make it difficult for them to
participate fully in the societies in which they live. The Standard Rules note that
“Persons with disabilities and their organizations should play an active role as
partners in this process”.
16. Although the Standard Rules are not a legally binding instrument, they
represent the strong moral and political commitment of Governments to take action
to attain equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. They serve as an
instrument for policy-making and as a basis for technical and economic cooperation.
They incorporate the human rights perspective developed during the Decade and
provide practical guidance on the equalization of opportunities in four areas:
(a) preconditions for equal participation, (b) target areas for equal participation,
(c) implementation measures, and (d) a monitoring mechanism.
17. The aim of the monitoring mechanism is to further effect the implementation
of the Standard Rules, to assist States in assessing their respective levels of
implementation of the Standard Rules, and to measure progress. The purpose of
monitoring is to identify obstacles and suggest measures that would contribute to
successful implementation of the Standard Rules. Monitoring would recognize the
economic, social and cultural features existing in individual States. The Standard
Rules further note that a special rapporteur with relevant and extensive experience
in disability issues and international organizations should be appointed by the
Secretary-General, if necessary, funded by extrabudgetary resources, for three years
to monitor their implementation. The first Special Rapporteur on disability of the
Commission for Social Development, Bengt Lindqvist (Sweden), was appointed by
the Secretary-General in 1994, initially for a period of three years. The activities of
the Special Rapporteur are discussed below.
D. Rights of persons with disabilities: treatment in other
international instruments
18. In paragraph 175 (d), the Programme of Action called upon the United Nations
system to assist efforts in meeting the needs of persons with disabilities. On 20 June
1983, the General Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO) passed
Convention No. 159, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled
Persons) Convention, 1983, which came into force on 20 June 1985 and has been
ratified by 68 ILO member States. The Convention aims to ensure that appropriate
vocational rehabilitation measures are made available to all categories of disabled
persons and promote employment opportunities for disabled persons in the labour
market. It urges equality of opportunity and treatment of persons with disabilities of
both genders and applies to all categories of persons with disabilities. Based on the

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work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), the Salamanca statement and framework for action on special needs
education, which was adopted by the World Conference on Special Needs
Education: Access and Quality (Salamanca, Spain, 7-10 June 1994), proclaims that
every child has a fundamental right to an education, that education systems must
take into account diversity and that those with special needs must have access to
regular schools with an inclusive orientation. The statement urges that Governments
adopt inclusive education as a policy or law. The framework for action defines
special educational needs as needs arising from disabilities or learning difficulties;
the guiding principle is that schools should accommodate all children within a childcentred
pedagogy.
19. The World Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna from 14 to 25 June
1993, considered new frameworks for planning, dialogue and cooperation to enable
holistic approaches to promoting human rights and involve actors at all levels —
international, national and local. In its chapter entitled “Equality, dignity and
tolerance” the Programme of Action adopted by the Conference recognizes that all
human rights and fundamental freedoms are universal, and thus should unreservedly
include people with disabilities. The Declaration adopted by the Conference states,
in paragraph 22, that special attention needs to be paid to ensuring nondiscrimination
and the equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms by disabled persons, including their active participation in all aspects of
society. The international community affirmed its view that any discrimination,
intentional or unintentional, against persons with disabilities is per se a violation of
basic human rights.
20. Development approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities were
also on the agenda of conferences and summits in the economic and social fields
organized by the United Nations in the period following the Decade. In paragraphs
6.29-6.33, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population
and Development considers the situation of persons with disabilities in a broad
rights framework and, inter alia, urges Governments (a) to consider the needs of
persons with disabilities in terms of ethical and human rights dimensions; (b) to
develop infrastructure to address the needs of persons with disabilities with regard
to education, training and rehabilitation; (c) to promote mechanisms to ensure the
rights of persons with disabilities; and (d) to promote systems for the social and
economic integration of persons with disabilities. The Copenhagen Declaration and
Programme of Action of the World Summit on Social Development addresses the
situation of persons with disabilities under each of the priority themes, i.e., the
eradication of poverty, the expansion of productive employment and social
integration. The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth
World Conference on Women addresses the situation of women with disabilities in a
broad rights context. In paragraph 32, the Declaration refers to the elimination of
barriers to their advancement and participation in development. The chapter entitled
“Strategic objectives and actions” of the Platform identifies actions for the
advancement of women with disabilities with reference to education and training,
health, the economy, human rights, and the girl child. The Istanbul Declaration on
Human Settlements and the Habitat Agenda adopted at the United Nations
Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II), in its chapter entitled
“Commitments”, discusses the need to direct special attention to the needs and
circumstances of persons with disabilities; commitment A, “Adequate shelter for

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all” refers specifically to the need for accessible shelter and basic services and
facilities, which are to be promoted in a manner fully consistent with human rights
standards.13
E. Measuring, monitoring and evaluation of the situation of
persons with disabilities
21. The reviews of policy instruments provided above indicate that disability
issues have been recognized as an integral component of the international
development agenda. Rights-based approaches have obtained policy commitments in
major United Nations conferences and summits on social and economic issues of
international concern. However, progress on measurement, monitoring and
evaluation of the situation of persons with disabilities as a mainstream issue has
been slow.14 The observed tendency has been to assess conditions relating to
disability in persons at the individual and population levels.
22. In paragraph 185, the Programme of Action urged United Nations Member
States to develop a programme of research on the causes, types and incidence of
impairment and disability, and the economic and social conditions of disabled
persons, and in paragraph 198 requested the United Nations Statistics Division to
cooperate with countries in the development of practical systems of data collection
with regard to disabilities and publish technical manuals on the collection of such
statistics. However, prior to the adoption of the Programme of Action, in 1982, the
World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that as acute disease conditions were
brought under control there was a need to classify what WHO believed were the
consequences of disease. WHO issued in 1980 the International Classification of
Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps (ICIDH)15 for trial purposes to facilitate
health-service planning in disability-related fields. Some criticized ICIDH for
placing undue emphasis on the medical model of disability; many disability rights
advocates noted that the concept “handicap” recognized that social factors placed
persons at a disadvantage along a variety of circumstantial dimensions. In
recognition of the potential uses of ICIDH and taking into account the criticisms of
its underlying model, particular classifications and language, such as the traditional
use of the term “handicap” in English, resulted in active and engaged worldwide
participation in ICIDH implementation and revision processes after its initial
publication.
23. By the mid-point of the Decade, technical monographs had been prepared by
the United Nations Secretariat on the development of statistics related to persons
with disabilities, and a pilot database on disability statistics — DISTAT — based on
national census, surveys and administrative reporting data from 55 countries, was
under development.16 The general conceptual framework of DISTAT was the United
Nations framework for integration of social, demographic and related statistics;17
ICIDH was used to organize DISTAT at the impairment and disability levels.18 A
definite focus in DISTAT is on the identification of standards for disability statistics
and the establishment of a common framework for the further development of
statistics on disability. The experience of DISTAT suggests that measures of socioeconomic
issues and persons with disabilities are the same as for non-disabled
persons; and DISTAT data on educational attainment demonstrate the devastating
handicapping effects of disablement among children in terms of loss of opportunity
to attend school.19 In 1996, the United Nations Statistics Division, in cooperation

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with WHO, prepared the Manual for the Development of Statistical Information for
Disability Programmes and Policies20 to provide guidelines on production and use
of data relevant to disability policies and programmes. In 1997, the Division
provided recommendations for the year 2000 round of population and housing
censuses on disability and measurement of the disability dimension in the Principles
and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 1.21
24. During that period, disability advocates raised concerns that efforts to measure
disability had directed their emphasis to disability prevalence with a view to
supporting prevention programmes. Some had argued that such a focus conflicted
with a human rights perspective because disability was a subjective concept, while
some measurement efforts attempted to view the concept in a rigid, objective
manner. In recent years, others have argued that such efforts are required to assess
the situation of persons with disabilities with reference to all persons. The United
Nations Statistics Division and WHO have considered a variety of perspectives
concerning data and statistics related to disability, and their activities have helped to
build awareness and frame issues in the ongoing debate.
F. Regional cooperation
25. In connection with the observance of the end of the Decade, both the
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) organized regional
reviews and formulated long-term strategies for regional cooperation in the field of
disability. In 1989, ESCWA organized a conference on the capabilities and needs of
the disabled in the ESCWA region (Amman, 20-28 November 1989), which
formulated a planning framework for regional action. At the end of the Decade,
ESCWA organized, under the patronage of Queen Noor Al Hussein of Jordan, a
cultural event for disabled persons (Amman, 17 and 18 October 1992), whose
substantive plenary endorsed a long-term strategy towards the year 2010 to promote
the rights of persons with disabilities in the western Asia region as well as a
framework for proclamation of an Arab decade of persons with disabilities.
Preparatory work on a long-term strategy to promote the rights of persons in Asia
and the Pacific began at the Fourth Asian and Pacific Ministerial Conference on
Social Welfare and Social Development (Manila, 7-11 October 1991), with the
adoption of a social development strategy for the ESCAP region to the year 2000
and beyond (E/ESCAP/824). With the ultimate aim of improving the quality of life
for all, the regional strategy provided an effective policy framework for the fortyeighth
session of ESCAP. In its resolution 48/3, ESCAP proclaimed the period
1993-2002 as the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, with the goals of
full participation and equality of persons with disabilities.
G. Universal design and equalization of opportunities for all
26. The third evaluation report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of
the Programme of Action (A/52/351) examined a range of disability issues in the
context of development, with reference to a broad human rights framework. The
report documented progress in incorporating the disability perspective in the
outcomes of major United Nations conferences and summits on social and economic
issues of international concern. From a policy point of view, the report discussed the

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concept of a disability perspective in rights-based approaches to development since
that contributed to realization of a society for all (see General Assembly resolution
48/99). The report also introduced the concept of universal design and its
application in planning and development of environments22 that were responsive and
supportive of the diverse needs of populations.
27. The value proposition of universal design is to meet the needs of as many users
as possible through inclusive solutions and open and democratic participation, which
are the basic concerns of the Programme of Action and the Standard Rules. The
seven principles of universal design reflect a set of values to further full
participation and equality rather than technical planning and design standards on
accessibility: (1) equitable use — the design is useful and relevant to people with
diverse abilities; (2) flexibility in use — the design accommodates a wide range of
individual preferences and abilities; (3) simple and intuitive use — the design is
easy to understand regardless of the knowledge, experience, language skills or
concentration level of the user; (4) perceptive information — the design
communicates information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient condition or
sensory abilities of the user; (5) tolerance for error — the design minimizes the
hazards and adverse consequences of unintended actions; (6) low physical effort —
the design can be used easily, efficiently and comfortably, with a minimum of
fatigue; and (7) size and space for approach and use — the size and space for
approach, reach, manipulation and use is appropriate, regardless of the body size,
posture or mobility of the user (see E/ESCWA/H5/2000/1).
28. Introduction of universal design considerations to the evaluation report
responded to both an observed expansion of constituencies concerned with disability
in the period since the Decade and the recognition that full and effective
participation for all in the emerging global information economy required new
thinking, accessible and inclusive approaches, and comprehensive development
initiatives in a broad rights framework. By linking universal design considerations
with the analysis of the political economy of disability, the report indicated that
sustainable development required full and effective participation by all parties as
agents and beneficiaries. The evaluation also recognized the link between
environmental accessibility and the promotion and protection of human rights for
all. The report noted that measures of whether persons with disabilities were
empowered to take independent decisions in their lives, to exercise control over
their use of time, to plan and decide on use of economic resources and to prepare for
major life cycle changes represented the types of indicators that could predict
whether desired outcomes were being achieved. It also noted that measures of
environmental accessibility that affected the exercise of one’s rights, such as
independence, uses of time, social integration, economic self-sufficiency and life
cycle transitions, required further study.
H. Priorities for the further equalization of opportunities
29. In its consideration of the third evaluation report of the Secretary-General
(A/52/351), the Assembly identified, in its resolution 52/82, three priorities for
action to further equalization of opportunities: (a) accessibility, (b) social services
and safety nets, and (c) employment and sustainable livelihoods. It also urged bodies
and organizations of the United Nations system to promote the rights of persons
with disabilities.

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Notes
1 The Programme of Action, para. 164, states: “Specifically, organizations and bodies involved in
the United Nations system responsible for the preparation and administration of international
agreements, covenants and other instruments that might have a direct or indirect impact on
disabled people should ensure that such instruments fully take into account the situation of
persons who are disabled.”
2 See Marcia H. Rioux, “Disability: the place of judgment in a world of fact”, Journal of
Intellectual Disability Research, vol. 41, No. 2; Michael Oliver, “Changing the social relations
of research production”, Disability, Handicap and Society, vol. 7, No. 2; Jean-François Ravaud
and Henri-Jacques Stiker, “Les modèles de l’inclusion et de l’exclusion à l’épreuve du
handicap”, Handicap-Revue de Sciences Humaines et Sociales, vol. 87; Jean-François Ravaud
and Henri-Jacques Stiker, “Inclusion/exclusion: disability, politics and recognition”, chapter 21
in Gary L. Albrecht, Katherine D. Seelman and Michael Bury, eds., Handbook of Disability
Studies (Thousand Oaks, Sage Publications, 2001); Catherine Barral, “Typology of the forms of
social exclusion”, paper presented at an expert meeting on the theme “Critical issues and trends
related to disability and human rights: emerging issues and concepts”, Toronto, 17-19 June
2002.
3 See Scott Campbell Brown, “Methodological paradigms that shape disability research”, chapter
5 in Albrecht et al., op. cit.
4 See R. Pechansky and C. Thomas, “The concept of access: definition and relation to customer
satisfaction”, Medical Care, vol. 19, No. 2; Rune J. Simeonsson, Donald B. Bailey Jr., Donna
Scandlin, Gail S. Huntington and Marcia Roth, “Disability, health, secondary conditions and
quality of life: emerging issues in public health”, chapter 11 in Rune J. Simeonsson and Lauren
N. McDevitt, eds., Issues in Disability and Health: the Role of Secondary Conditions and
Quality of Life (Chapel Hill, North Carolina Office on Disability and Health, 1999); Gale G.
Whiteneck, Patrick Fourgeyrollas and Kenneth A. Gilbert, “Elaborating the model of
disablement”, in Marcus J. Fuher, ed., Assessing Medical Rehabilitation Practices: the Promise
of Outcomes Research (Baltimore, Paul H. Brookes, 1997).
5 The report was based on the findings and recommendations of a global meeting of experts to
review the implementation of the Programme of Action at the mid-point of the Decade, held in
Stockholm from 17 to 22 August 1987 and generously supported by the Government of Sweden.
6 At the policy level, the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women
state that women constitute a significant number of people who are disabled. The Strategies also
note that many factors account for rising numbers of disabled persons, including war, violence,
poverty, hunger, and work-related accidents, and recommended that Governments adopt the
Programme of Action (see A/CONF.116/28/Rev.1, chap. I, sect. A, para. 296).
7 The mid-Decade report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Programme of
Action (A/42/551) noted that bilateral cooperation in the field of disability in the period under
review had included support for drinking water and sanitation, as well as for health services and
nutrition surveillance. The report also described institutional development and leadership
training activities in such areas as community-based rehabilitation, appropriate technologies,
sports training and cooperative development, supported by the United Nations Voluntary Fund
on Disability, which also included co-financing support to a UNDP-assisted project on training
and research in rehabilitation in Mauritania.
8 See United Nations Disability Statistics Database, 1975-1986: Technical Manual (United
Nations publication, Sales No. E.88.XVII.12); Elaboracion de estadísticas sobre los impedidos:
estudios de casos; (United Nations publication, Sales No. S.86.XVII.17). The World’s Women
1970-1990: Trends and Statistics (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.90.XVII.3) discusses,
briefly, the situation of women with disabilities, and notes that the care of persons with
disabilities falls disproportionately on women.
9 See Development of Statistical Concepts and Methods on Disability for Household Surveys
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.88.XVII.4); and Disability Statistics Compendium
(United Nations publication, Sales No. E.90.XVII.17).

A/AC.265/2003/2
10 The mid-Decade review (A/42/561) submitted recommendations, inter alia, on (a) recognition of
sign language as a legitimate interpretation need in United Nations meetings, when required;
(b) access to United Nations facilities and materials for persons with special needs; (c) nationallevel
guidelines on the rights of persons with communications disabilities, and on education and
training for socio-economic integration of persons with disabilities.
11 See Robert I. Metts, “Planning for disability”, paper presented to a United Nations panel on
independent living of persons with disabilities, 3 December 1998.
12 See James I. Charlton, Nothing About Us Without Us: Disability Oppression and Empowerment
(Berkeley, University of California Press).
13 Commitment B, “Sustainable human settlements” (paras. 42-43), addresses provision of equal
opportunities for a healthy, safe and productive life for those who belong to vulnerable and
disadvantaged groups. Commitment C, “Enablement and participation” (paras. 44-45), expresses
commitments for capacity-building in human settlements planning and management, based on
dialogue among actors, especially women and persons with disabilities, for promoting equal
access to information, and for facilitating participation in management of public and
community-based housing by women and those who belong to vulnerable and disadvantaged
groups.
14 The 12 key socio-economic indicators related to the major United Nations conferences and
summits on social and economic issues of international concern — elaborated by the systemwide
former Advisory Committee on Coordination Task Force on Basic Social Services for
All — did not include any measure of incidence of disability in persons. The indicators are: total
population, access to health services, contraceptive prevalence, underweight prevalence among
preschool children (under 5), maternal mortality ratio, mortality rate for infants and under-5
populations, life expectancy at birth (female/male), school enrolment (female/male), adult
literacy (female/male), access to safe water, access to sanitation, and floor area per person. See
Charting the Progress of Populations (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.XIII.6).
15 Geneva 1980.
16 See ESA/STAT/AC.18/7; Development of Statistical Concepts and Methods on Disability for
Household Surveys (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.88.XVII.4); United Nations
Disability Statistics Database, 1975-1986: Technical Manual (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.88.XVII.12).
17 See Towards a System of Social and Demographic Statistics (United Nations publication, Sales
No. E.74.XVII.8).
18 See Disability Statistics Compendium (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.90.XVII.17),
chap. I.
19 Ibid., chap. II.
20 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.XVII.4.
21 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.98.XVII.8, paras. 2.258-2.277.
22 Environment is used here in a broad sense and, as noted above, refers to the policy and
programme environments for equalization of opportunities, the social and economic
environments to pursue equalization of opportunities, accessible built environments, and
information and technologies environments that provide reasonable accommodation.