UN Enable - International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December 1998

U N I T E D N A T I O N S

N A T I O N S U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION

OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DISABLED PERSONS

3 December 1998

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons aims to promote awareness and understanding of disability issues and to mobilize support for the rights and well-being of disabled persons. This year, in which we also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, it is appropriate to recall the opening words of that landmark text: "whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world".

The theme for this year's observance -- "arts, culture and independent living" -- reflects a number of priority issues identified by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons adopted by the General Assembly in 1982. Artistic and cultural pursuits provide important opportunities for personal expression, and the contributions of disabled persons in this regard not only enrich us all but serve to illuminate the universality of the human spirit. Independent living, for its part, based on equal access to essential services and to opportunities for productive, gainful employment, is likewise a pathway to the full participation of disabled persons in the lives of their societies.

Full participation in today's world also means access to cyberspace. I am pleased to note that the United Nations "persons with disabilities" home page on the Internet (un.org/esa/socdev/disabled.htm) meets international technical guidelines for World-Wide-Web accessibility. This state-of-the-art site, designed and maintained by the Division for Social Policy and Development of the UN's Department for Economic and Social Affairs, received the 1998 "Bernard Posner Memorial Award" from the People-to-People Committee on Disability, a non-profit organization working to promote international understanding and communication in this field. I commend it to all people -- with or without a disability, impairment or handicap -- as a good platform from which to share in this year's observance of the International Day.

As we pursue the goal of a "society for all", we must devote greater attention to promoting a "disability perspective" in development policies and programmes. Societies around the world are becoming more and more diverse, and are increasingly able to accommodate diverse individual choices in terms of both life-styles and livelihoods. Again taking a cue from the Universal Declaration, the 50th anniversary motto -- "all human rights for all" -- will only have meaning if persons with disabilities are part of the picture.