ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARKS OBSERVANCE OF DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR SOCIETY "ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL"

Press Release
GA/SM/135

ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT MARKS OBSERVANCE OF DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH CALL FOR SOCIETY ‘ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL’

This is the text of a message delivered today by the President of the General Assembly, Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia), on the occasion of the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons:

This year’s theme, which marks the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, is “Accessibility for all in the new Millennium”.

The focus this year on accessibility for persons with disabilities derives from the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, which the General Assembly adopted by resolution 37/52 on 3 December 1982. Consistent with this decision, the annual observance of the International Day, on 3 December, provides the international community with opportunities to consider the rich contributions made by persons with disabilities to the societies in which they live.

Accessibility issues affect all of us. They are essential to the full and effective exercise of the political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights that are enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as well as various international human rights instruments. Accessibility is not only a technical term designating access to public facilities or information services. It is an underlying objective of social awareness which affects all dimensions of human activities in all societies.

On the eve of the new millennium, and with the rapid pace of change, it becomes especially important that we promote accessibility for all.

There is growing awareness and support for comprehensive approaches aimed at advancing the well-being of persons with disabilities, particularly through the application of relevant international conventions and ethics. Among these are the United Nations “Standard rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities”, adopted unanimously by the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session. The current session of the General Assembly is considering reports on practical ways and means to further

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strengthen activities to promote accessibility for all and to further equalize opportunities by and for persons with disabilities.

In this connection, the seminars in Bangkok, Beirut and Hong Kong, dealing with Internet accessibility, environmental accessibility and international norms and practices relating to disability, respectively, are some of the ways in which governments, international and regional organizations, the non-governmental community and civil society are working together to promote accessibility for all as policy objective and means of development.

Another welcome initiative and support is the planned launching of an “Africa Decade of Disabled Persons” commencing on 1 January 2000.

The international community needs to intensify its efforts to strengthen national capacities and institutional capabilities of developing countries to extend more opportunities by and for persons with disabilities for their full and effective participation in society and development.

Our collective efforts should be focused on raising awareness and promoting greater understanding of the practical development needs of persons with disabilities. In this way we will be able to further promote respect for human rights and encourage concerted action to equalize opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities.

Let us seize the opportunity of this observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons to reaffirm our resolve to build truly accessible, caring and inclusive societies for all in the new millennium.

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