The United Nations' (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities to be observed on December 3 (tomorrow) across the globe including Pakistan with the aims to increase the understanding of the issues around disabilities and attention to the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
It also aims to increase the awareness of the gains for everybody if disabled persons are integrated into all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life and raising money for resources for persons with disabilities. Many events are held on and around the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 each year.
Many of these events aim to involve groups of people from all sections of the society in upholding the rights of persons with disabilities and to celebrate the contributions by persons with disabilities to their communities.
Other events take the form of protests to highlight the difficulties disabled people have in playing a full role in society. Examples of events include: forums with experts and disabled persons; public discussions; the presentation of information campaigns; exhibitions of art created by disabled people; social gatherings; and fundraising activities to raise money to support disabled people.
The United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was held from 1983 to 1992 to enable governments and organisations to implement measures to improve the life of disabled persons all over the world. On October 14, 1992, as this decade drew to a close, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 3, as the International Day of Disabled Persons.
This day was first observed on December 3, 1992. On December 18, 2007, the assembly changed the observance's name from the "International Day of Disabled Persons" to the "International Day of Persons with Disabilities". The new name was first used in 2008.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is co-ordinated by United Nations Enable, which works to support and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The symbol of Enable is the blue UN symbol and the word "enable". The UN symbol consists of an azimuthal equidistant projection of the globe centered on the North Pole surrounded by olive branches. The word "enable" is written entirely in lower case letters. The letter "e" is red and the other letters are blue.
This year's theme is "Making the MDGs Inclusive: empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world". Around 10 percent of the world's population, or 650 million people, live with disabilities.
People are often unaware of the great number of persons living with disabilities around the world and the challenges they face. WHO's mission is to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities through national, regional and global efforts and to raise awareness about the magnitude and consequences.
The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life.