World Disability Day
World Disability Day
3rd
December is celebrated as International Day of Persons with Disabilities promoted
by the United Nations since
1992. This year we celebrate the 21st anniversary of International Day of
Persons with disability. It has been celebrated with varying degrees of success
around the planet. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding
of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and
well-being of persons with disabilities. Over one billion people, or
approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of
disability! 15% of the world’s population is disabled and an estimated 80% of
those 1 billion people live in the developing world.
Around
the world, persons with disabilities face physical, social, economic and
attitudinal barriers that exclude them from participating fully and effectively
as equal members of society. They are disproportionately represented among the
world’s poorest, and lack equal access to basic resources, such as education,
employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems, as well as have a
higher rate of mortality. In spite of this situation, disability has remained
largely invisible in the mainstream development agenda and its processes.
The
commemoration of this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities
provides an opportunity to further raise awareness of disability and
accessibility as a cross cutting development issue and further the global
efforts to promote accessibility, remove all types of barriers, and to realize
the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society and
shape the future of development for all!
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