2017 Theme: “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”
United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually held on December 3 to focus on issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide.
The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution.
Aims
- To promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development,
- To increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
World Wide statistics
- Approximately 15% of the total population of the world is made up of disabled people
- In India out of the 121 Cr population, 2.68 Cr persons are ‘disabled’ which is 2.21% of the total population (Census 2011)
Disability definition
A physical, mental, cognitive, or developmental condition that impairs, interferes with, or limits a person’s ability to engage in certain tasks or actions or participate in typical daily activities and interactions
History of Disability Day
In 1976, the United Nations General Assembly made the decision that 1981 should be the International Year of Disabled Persons. The 5 years between the making of that decision and the actual Year of Disabled Persons were spent contemplating the hardships of the disabled, how the opportunities of the disabled could be equalized, and how to ensure that the disabled take part fully in community life enjoying all of the rights and benefits non-disabled citizens have. Another issue that was touched on was how world governments could go about preventing disabilities from touching people in the first place, so much of the talk was about the viruses and other illnesses that lead to various kinds of disability. The decade between 1983 and 1992 was later proclaimed the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, and during that time, all of the concepts previously created became parts of one long process that was implemented in order to improve the lives of disabled persons the world over.
How to Celebrate Disability Day?
Each year since 1992, a variety of events are held in many countries.
Disability Day is used for holding discussions, forums and campaigns relating to disability, and communities are encouraged to organize meeting, talks, and even performances in their local areas. These can range from hosting a musical to a play, with disabled people being involved in these productions. The overall aim is to show non-disabled people that a person with a disability can be a vibrant member of society, as it happens that the entirely healthy are not always quite aware of this fact, which can lead to different kinds of discrimination of varying degrees of severity. The disabled, on the other hand, benefit from such performances by proving to themselves that there are many things they can still do, despite their conditions, which can help with their self-esteem and avoid mental issues such as depression from plaguing them. In general, these kinds of events are meant to challenge and to help them get rid of various stereotypes so that disabled people can enjoy lives free of discrimination and additional hardship.
Why it is Necessary to Celebrate the International Day of Disabled Persons?
Most of the people even do not know how many people are disabled in the society around their houses, and about whether they are getting equal rights like normal people in the society or not. They need some assistance from the normal people to rise in their life, to get dignity and live with wellbeing. But, generally most people in the society are not aware of their special needs.
So, it is very necessary to celebrate this event to create awareness about the real condition of the people with disabilities. People with the disabilities come under “the world’s largest minority” and face a lot of obstructions in all aspects of life because of the lack of proper resources and rights for them.
References