Chapter VII
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons:
1983 - 1992
The proclamation in December 1982 of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
(1983-1992) prompted a flurry of activity designed to improve the situation and status of
the disabled. Emphasis was placed on raising new financial resources, improving education
and employment opportunities for the disabled, and increasing their participation in the
life of their communities and country.
The Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities had
included disabled persons in international human rights discourse since its establishment.
In 1984, it appointed Leandro Despouy of Argentina as Special Rapporteur to study the
connection between human rights violations, violations of fundamental human freedoms and
disability. He was to report biannually to the Sub-Commission on the particular human
rights situation of disabled persons. His final report in which he recommended the
establishment of an international ombudsman was submitted in 1991.
The General Assembly endorsed a continued focus on the objectives of the World
Programme of Action with regard to equalization of opportunities for the disabled. The
Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled Persons was to be used to support
innovative projects in new and emerging areas regarding disabled persons. With $1.1
million dispersed for 51 projects throughout the world between 1980 and 1985, there was
much increased visibility and support for promotional activities, organizations concerned
with disability, data collection, research and training.
At this juncture, the United Nations also took itself to task, with the General
Assembly noting that persons with disabilities would enjoy the same rights to employment
as all other qualified citizens and that the United Nations itself would declare
employment opportunities open to all persons, regardless of sex, religion, ethnic origin
or disability.
In August 1987, a mid-decade review of the United Nations Decade of Disabled persons
was conducted at a global meeting of experts in Stockholm, Sweden. The meeting recommended
the importance of recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities after the Decade.
Since the pace of progress during the first five years had not been as fast as initially
expected, the experts agreed that the disability issues should be further addressed within
a wider interdisciplinary context--namely, a comprehensive well-coordinated information
and evaluation campaign; establishment of a data base on disability; and creation of
technical cooperation programmes.
"The International Year of Disabled Persons, 1981, was a milestone in the long
history of the struggle of people with disabilities against discrimination and
segregation, and for equal rights. The World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
Persons, the fruit of collective work by Governments and organizations, recognized
disabled persons first and foremost as citizens vested with all the rights and obligations
that this implied. ...The problems of disabled persons could not be isolated. Their
solution depended on the recognition of the rights and needs of disabled persons, on the
political commitment to resolve the problems, on the formulation and implementation of
effective and integrated strategies." --Margaret Joan Anstee, Director-General of the
United Nations Office in Vienna and Head of Centre for Social and Humanitarian Affairs at
the opening session of the global meeting of experts, Stockholm, Sweden, 17-22 August 1987
Publication in 1989 of the Tallinn Guidelines for Action on Human Resources Development
in the Field of Disability encouraged recognition of disabled persons as agents of their
own destiny rather than as dependent objects of Governments. With independence and full
integration as goals, the Guidelines encouraged educating disabled persons within the
regular school system, in particular, and promoting the teaching of skills to render the
disabled economically viable. The Guidelines suggest that training of the disabled should
include independent socialization and self-help skills to prepare them for independent
living. International development agencies and intergovernmental and regional
organizations were encouraged to work together in training the disabled for optimum human
resource development.
On 17 December 1991, the General Assembly adopted the Principles for the Protection of
Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care. The twenty-five
principles define fundamental freedoms and basic rights. They deal with, inter alia, the
right to life in the community, the determination of mental illness, provisions for
admission to treatment facilities, and the conditions of mental health facilities. They
serve as a guide to Governments, specialized agencies and regional and international
organizations, helping them facilitate investigation into problems affecting the
application of fundamental freedoms and basic human rights for persons with mental
illness.
On 16 December 1992, the General Assembly appealed to Governments to observe 3 December
of each year as International Day of Disabled Persons. The Assembly further summarized the
goals of the United Nations regarding disability and asked the Secretary-General to move
from consciousness-raising to action, placing the Organization in a catalytic leadership
role which would place disability issues on the agendas of future world conferences.
In the same year, the Economic and Social Council endorsed the proclamation of
1993-2002 as Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, a decision taken by the
Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific, in order effectively to implement
the World Programme of Action in the Asian and Pacific region.
 Return
to top
   |
