DISABILITY: International Day of Disabled Persons 2007

Summary: 3 December 2007Children with disabilities | a new Convention | observing the day | resources

The International Day of Disabled Persons, which is held every year on 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. This year's theme is 'Decent work for persons with disabilities.'

The day also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Children with disabilities

Some 150-200 million out of two billion children worldwide - or ten per cent of children - live with disabilities. Children with disabilities experience widespread violations of their rights, many of which are common to those faced by adults – poverty, social exclusion, lack of accessible environments, violence. 

They face abuses including abandonment as babies, institutionalisation, exclusion from education, lack of birth registration, lack of respect for their evolving capacities, inappropriate child protection systems.
                                                                                                                                      
   

"I wouldn't go to school if I were you!"       "I have the right to know about things that                                                          affect me and about what goes on in the world."

[Pictures drawn by children at the regional consultation on children and the disability Convention for the Middle East and North Africa, which was organised by Save the Children Sweden and Save the Children UK. The meeting was held in Sana'a, Yemen in October. See more pictures here]

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities - the first human rights treaty of the 21st century

This year's International Day of Disabled Persons has special significance as a new international Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December last year, became the fastest ever signed Convention, with 118 signatures so far. However, the Convention has yet to come into force as only seven countries - Croatia, Cuba, Gabon, Hungary, India, Jamaica and Panama - out of a required 20 have ratified the Convention. Today will be an opportunity for rights advocates to urge those governments that have not already done so, to ratify the Convention.

Children and the new Convention

The new Convention marks a shift from seeing children with disabilities as objects of charity, and addressing their 'special needs' - the approach set out in Article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - to subjects of rights. 

All the Articles in the text apply to children with disabilities; in addition, Article 7 sets out specific obligations to ensure children with disabilities enjoy of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children, to ensure that the best interests of the child is a primary consideration, and to provide disability and age appropriate assistance to ensure that children with disabilities are able to realise the right to their express views on all matters of concern to them and have them taken seriously in accordance with age and maturity. Read more in Gerison Lansdown's paper: The New Disability Convention and the Protection of Children.
 

   
"I have the right to play in the same places       "I have the right to be happy and                                                               as other children"                                   for others to love me"

Below are some ideas for observing the day: 

  • Involve: Observance of the Day provides opportunities for participation by all interested communities - governmental, non-governmental and the private sector - to focus upon catalytic and innovative measures to further implement international norms and standards related to persons with disabilities. Schools, universities and similar institutions can make particular contributions with regard to promoting greater interest and awareness among interested parties of the social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights of persons with disabilities.
  • Organise: Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of the Day focusing on disability issues and trends and ways and means by which persons with disabilities and their families are pursuing independent life styles, sustainable livelihoods and financial security.
  • Celebrate: Plan and organise performances everywhere to showcase - and celebrate - the contributions by persons with disabilities to the societies in which they live and convene exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of persons with disabilities.
  • Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and to further their participation in social life and development on the basis of equality. The media have especially important contributions to make in support of the observance of the Day - and throughout the year - regarding appropriate presentation of progress and obstacles implementing disability-sensitive policies, programmes and projects and to promote public awareness of the contributions by persons with disabilities.

    • Resources

    International instruments

    Publications

    Tools

    News

    Pictures

    • Pictures drawn by children at the regional consultation in Yemen on children and the disability Convention

    Websites

    Organisation: 
    UN - United Nations
    UN - United Nations
    UN - United Nations
    UN - United Nations
    Articles: 
    Article 2: Non-discrimination
    Article 23: Children with disabilities

    Countries

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