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A/C.3/51/4

Note verbale dated 96/09/26 from the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea addressed to the Secretary-General.

UN Document Symbol A/C.3/51/4
Convention Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Document Type Note Verbale
Session 51st
Type Document
Description

4 p.

Subjects Persons with Disabilities

Extracted Text

UNITED NATIONS
A
General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/C.3/51/4
27 September 1996
ORIGINAL: ENGLISH
Fifty-first session
THIRD COMMITTEE
Agenda item 100
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE
WORLD SOCIAL SITUATION AND TO YOUTH, AGEING, DISABLED
PERSONS AND THE FAMILY
Note verbale dated 26 September 1996 from the Permanent
Representative of the Republic of Korea addressed to
the Secretary-General
The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations
presents his compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has
the honour to transmit both the remarks of President Kim Young Sam of the
Republic of Korea at the Presentation of the First Franklin Delano Roosevelt
International Disability Award held at San Francisco on 15 September 1996 and
the message from Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.
The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea would like to request
that the present note and its annexes be circulated as an official document of
the General Assembly under agenda item 100.
96-25584 (E) 041096 /...
A/C.3/51/4
English
Page 2
ANNEX I
Remarks of the President of the Republic of Korea at the
presentation of the first Franklin Delano Roosevelt
International Disability Award, held at San Francisco
on 15 September 1996
On behalf of the Korean people, I would like to express my deep
appreciation to the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World
Committee on Disability for selecting the Republic of Korea as the first
recipient of the distinguished Franklin Delano Roosevelt International
Disability Award.
Considering the special relationship between the Republic of Korea and the
United Nations, it is highly significant, I believe, for the Republic of Korea
to receive this award here in San Francisco, the birth place of the world
Organization. I am deeply gratified by this.
We are all the more honoured because the award symbolizes the indomitable
faith and courage of President Franklin Roosevelt, a world leader who greatly
contributed to the peace and prosperity of humankind, overcoming his own
disability. With his penetrating insight and leadership, he not only forged the
United States into a great nation, he also produced a blueprint for a peaceful
post-war world order through the establishment of the United Nations.
The greatness of President Roosevelt, who overcame the trials brought on by
his physical disability and attained historical achievements, gives much hope
and courage to the disabled not only in Korea but throughout the world.
I have a profound respect for the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
because of its efforts to extol the high ideals and achievements of President
Roosevelt and to realize the principles and ideas of the United Nations.
There are more than 1 million disabled persons in the Republic of Korea.
The Government of the Republic of Korea is doing its utmost to promote their
welfare and to help expand their participation in public activities. The
Government has provided legal and institutional mechanisms to protect and
rehabilitate the disabled, while building more convenient public facilities for
them on a large scale. Furthermore, we are actively pushing measures to expand
educational and occupational opportunities for the disabled and to help
stabilize their livelihoods.
I believe that genuine democracy can be realized only when all people,
including the disabled, are able to live with dignity and have the right to
pursue happiness equally.
Government policies alone, however, are not enough to ensure that the
disabled can live normal lives. It is important for all people to help the
disabled and live with them with a spirit of love and dedication. In this
respect, I think it is very significant that a "disabled-first" campaign is
being carried out on a nationwide scale in our country.
/...
A/C.3/51/4
English
Page 3
As we receive this distinguished award from the Franklin and Eleanor
Roosevelt Institute, today, we feel a sense of grave responsibility. I take
this award as a sign of encouragement to the Korean people and Government to
make further efforts for the disabled. Moreover, I believe that today’s award
also places an international responsibility on us to become a model for other
developing countries in policies for the disabled, based on the democracy and
economic prosperity the Republic of Korea has attained.
On this occasion, I and the entire people of our country must renew our
determination to work harder not only for the promotion of the welfare of the
disabled but also for the development of democracy and social welfare that were
the lofty ideals of President Roosevelt.
I pray that the dedicated efforts of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt
Institute and the World Committee on Disability will bear fruit so that the
welfare and rights of the disabled will progress greatly worldwide.
/...
A/C.3/51/4
English
Page 4
ANNEX II
Letter dated 11 September 1996 from the Secretary-General
to the President of the Republic of Korea
I congratulate you and the Republic of Korea on receiving the
Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award. This award is
designed to advance and encourage the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in
1982. The Republic of Korea has made great strides towards reaching the goals
set out in that Programme.
We salute the memory of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a great statesman who
was a founding father of the United Nations. His life is a witness to the
magnificent contributions the disabled have made and can make to a better world.
It is altogether appropriate that the Institute that bears his name should have
established this award, which is very much in consonance with fundamental goals
and values of the United Nations.
I am sure the presentation of this award will encourage Governments, United
Nations agencies and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
to expand their participation in the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons.
As I said in 1992, although the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
has achieved a global awareness of disability issues, awareness alone will not
ensure that disabled people obtain full equality of opportunity. That is why
the United Nations is committed to turning awareness into action in the decade
ahead.
I am, therefore, very pleased to send warm congratulations on the important
progress in this field that has been made by the Government and the people of
the Republic of Korea.
(Signed) Boutros BOUTROS-GHALI
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