UN Human Rights Treaties

World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons48 to the year 2000 and beyond,
Taking note with appreciation of the report of the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on a Long-Term Strategy to Further the Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond,62 held at Vancouver, Canada, from 25 to 29 April 1992, and of the important input of non-governmental organizations of persons with disabilities,
Recognizing that the report represents a significant step forward in the development of a plan of action to implement the long-term strategy,
1. Requests the Secretary-General to seek the views of Member States on the strategy outlined in the report of the United Nations Expert Group Meeting on a Long-Term Strategy to Further the Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond;
2. Also requests the Secretary-General to develop a draft plan of action based on those views, the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, the report of the Expert Group Meeting, the report of the ad hoc open-ended working group to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons50 and other recent developments, as appropriate;
3. Recommends that the draft plan of action include priorities and a time-frame for implementation and that it be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration at its forty-eighth session and for approval at its forty-ninth session;
4. Requests that the draft plan of action be developed in consultation with the international non-governmental organizations of persons with disabilities having consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.
43rd plenary meeting 27 July 1993
1993/21. Positive and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and the leadership role of the United Nations in the process
The Economic and Social Council
Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following draft resolution:
"Positive and full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and the leadership role of the United Nations in the process
"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 Organization, in order 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 of human rights laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,”

"Noting that the rights proclaimed in the above-mentioned 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,1"
"Having regard to the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons,55 the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons,56 the Declaration on Social Progress and Development,57 the Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care58 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 by 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, 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,48 adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, and the definition therein of 'equalization of opportunities' reflect the 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) 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 specific measures required for the attainment of full equality by persons with disabilities, enumerated in the World Programme of Action,
"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

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world-wide 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) 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 persons 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 persons 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 persons 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 of persons with disabilities will be an important part of the preparatory process and agenda of the World Summit for Social Development to be held at Copenhagen on 11 and 12 March 1995;
"6. Welcomes the commitment of the Commission for Social Development to ensuring that the needs of persons with disabilities and their families and communities continue to be addressed in all of its work."
43rd plenary meeting 27 July 1993

1993/22. Implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing
The Economic and Social Council,
Mindful that the ageing of populations presents all countries with the major challenge of identifying and supporting new opportunities for older persons and their potential benefits for society,
Convinced that the United Nations remains the intergovernmental organization best equipped to provide leadership to the international community in dealing with the challenges presented by the ageing of individuals and populations,
Noting with satisfaction the deliberations of the International Conference on Ageing convened on 15 and 16 October 1992 by the General Assembly at its forty-seventh session,” on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the International Plan of Action on Ageing by the World Assembly on Ageing,”
Recalling General Assembly resolution 46/91 of 16 December 1991, by which the Assembly adopted the United Nations Principles for Older Persons, based on the Plan of Action,
Recalling that the States gathered in the World Assembly on Ageing reaffirmed their belief that the fundamental and inalienable rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights” should apply fully and undiminish-edly to the ageing,
Taking note of General Assembly resolution 47/5 of 16 October 1992, by which the Assembly adopted the Proclamation on Ageing and decided to observe the year 1999 as the International Year of Older Persons,
Taking note also of General Assembly resolution 47/86 of 16 December 1992, in which the Assembly adopted the global targets on ageing for the year 2001,” as a practical strategy on ageing, and urged Member States to support that strategy and to consult the guide for setting national targets on ageing,”
Aware of the expanded activities and initiatives of the United Nations programme on ageing,
Noting that, in General Assembly resolution 47/86, the Assembly requested the Commission for Social Development to convene an ad hoc informal working group at its thirty-third session for the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing and for proposing measures in support of setting national targets on ageing in the decade ahead,
Acknowledging with satisfaction the active participation of Member States, specialized agencies and bodies of the United Nations system and interested non-governmental organizations in the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the Plan of Action,
Taking note of the conclusions of the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the Plan of Action, which indicate that although some progress has been made in implementing the Plan of Action, much remains to be done to implement its recommendations fully, particularly in developing countries,”
1. Notes with appreciation the innovative and forward-looking approach employed in the preparation of the report of the Secretary-General on the third review and appraisal of the implementation of the International Plan of Action on Ageing;”

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