International Day of the Disabled: Events

The International Day of the Disabled is celebrated on December 3. According to sad statistics, about 10% of the world's population suffers from a disease that led to disability, which is almost 650 million people. The purpose of the day of the disabled is to draw public attention to the existing problem, to uphold the dignity of people, their rights and well-being. On this day informatization of the population is conducted, aimed at raising awareness about the benefits that integration of disabled people can bring to various aspects of life.

The role of the United Nations

Unfortunately, most disabled people still face problems preventing their full participation in public life, which forces them to be practically isolated from society. In developing countries, people with disabilities often lack basic human rights for food, medical care, education, employment and reproductive health. In this regard, UN activities are aimed at ensuring the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities: to participate in political, civil, social, economic and cultural life on an equal footing with other citizens of the state. The International Day of the Disabled is another day, when there is an occasion to declare the existing problem publicly. At the moment, there is an international legal document, the task of which is to ensure the empowerment of people with disabilities in their interests. This document is called "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities".

How to spend the International Day of the Disabled

To ensure a focus on non-traditional and stimulating measures aimed at the implementation of international standards and norms on persons with disabilities, both governmental and non-governmental organizations with mandatory participation of the private sector are involved in the Day of the Disabled. The main activities can be discussions, forums and information campaigns on the eve and directly on the International Day of Disabled Persons. Events of solemn nature can be planned and organized in different places. Basically, they are aimed at demonstrating and emphasizing the contribution of disabled people to public life.

Taking action

As part of this Day, all attention will be focused, among other things, on practical measures that will improve the effectiveness of compliance with norms and standards for people with disabilities.

A particularly important contribution can be made by the media, who assist in organizing the International Day of the Disabled with the maximum informatization of all population groups. But, as a rule, the mass media inform us about this problem year-round, covering the most burning issues and ways to solve them. For example, on International Day of Disabled Persons of 2013, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the opening of the UN accessibility center at its headquarters, which speaks of one more step towards a people with disabilities.