INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS, 3 DECEMBER, TO BE OBSERVED AT UN HEADQUARTERS

                                                            Note No. 5700

                                                            30 November 2001

Note to Correspondents

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS, 3 DECEMBER,

TO BE OBSERVED AT UN HEADQUARTERS

The International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, will be observed next week at United Nations Headquarters through a series of events.

On Monday, 3 December, at 6 p.m., the art exhibit “United Colours- Paintings by Walter Engel” will open in the South Secretariat Lobby Exhibition Area.  The exhibit is organized by the United Nations Staff Recreation Council Colombian Cultural Club, in cooperation with the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

On Wednesday, 5 December, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will hold an informal meeting at Two United Nations Plaza, Conference Room DC-2, 23^rd floor, to inform interested United Nations organizations and Member States for the preparations of the tenth anniversary, in September 2002, of the promulgation of the recommendation on folic acid supplements as part of disability prevention.  This meeting, organized jointly by the Division for Social Policy and Development of DESA and CDC, will provide an opportunity for sharing the experience of CDC in primary prevention, and explore international collaboration on this issue.

On Thursday, 6 December, from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., a panel discussion on “New approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcomes” will take place in Conference Room 9, General Assembly Building.  Organized by DESA’s Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, it will feature experts from academia and public institutions from various regions.

The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by the General Assembly (resolution 47/3).  The annual observance of the Day aims to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilize support for practical action at all levels by, with and for persons with disabilities.

The theme for the 2001 observance of the International Day is “Full participation and equality:  The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome.”  The theme is based on the goal of full participation and equality of persons with disabilities in social life and development, set by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1982.

                                    - 2 -                   Note No. 5700

                                                            30 November 2001

The activities for the International Day were organized by DESA, in cooperation with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

More information about the Day will be available at the United Nations Persons with Disabilities Internet site at http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disobs.htm.

For further information, please contact:  United Nations Programme on Disability Policy, Social Integration Branch, Division for Social Policy and Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, DC2-1319C, New York, NY 10017, Fax: 212-963-0111, E-mail: gueziel@un.org,

Web site: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable.

* *** *