Giornata internazionale delle persone con disabilità 2015

Theme –  Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities

Quicklinks:

• United Nations Secretary-General Message
  (Arabic) (Chinese) (English) (French) (Russian) (Spanish)
• Background
• Events at UN Headquarters (Programme)
  – UN Enable Film Festival
  – UN Enable Photo Exhibition “Images of Ability”
• How you can commemorate IDPD 2015 in your local community
• Commemorations from around the world
• Themes for previous years

Background

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been commemorated since 1992 to promote awareness and mobilize support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development. The Day works to promote action to raise awareness about disability issues and draw attention to the benefits of an inclusive and accessible society for all.

Governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector are encouraged to partner with organizations of persons with disabilities to arrange events and activities to commemorate the Day.

Theme for 2015: Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities

The estimated one billion people living with disabilities worldwide face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment, and education as well as social and political participation. The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society.

Persons with disabilities must be able to fulfil their role in society and participate on an equal basis with others. It is important to focus on the ability and not on the disability of an individual. Often, the societal image of persons with disabilities is impacted by attitudes based on stigma and discrimination, as well as archaic ideas about disability and persons with disabilities that are often the greatest barrier to their full and equal participation in society and development on an equal basis with others. It is important to note that disability is part of the human condition, and that all of us either are or will become disabled to one degree or another during the course of our lives.

By promoting empowerment, real opportunities for people are created. This enhances their own capacities and supports them in setting their own priorities. Empowerment involves investing in people – in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When people are empowered they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities, they become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities.

Sub-themes for IDPD 2015:

• Making cities inclusive and accessible for all
• Improving disability data and statistics
• Including persons with invisible disabilities in society and development

Making cities inclusive and accessible for all

It is estimated that by 2050, 66% of the world’s population will be living in cities. The United Nations’ Third Global Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development – Habitat III  – will take place in 2016 to review the progress, experience and lessons learnt in the past and to design a “New Urban Agenda”. This Agenda of focused policies and strategies is hoped to harness the power and forces behind urbanization. Habitat III will provide an important platform for the world’s urban development policy-makers and practitioners, as well as those working in the field of disability to review current practices and identify opportunities for change.

Importantly, the New Urban Agenda must ensure that future cities, towns and basic urban infrastructures and services are more environmentally accessible, user-friendly and inclusive of all people’s needs, including persons with disabilities. The International Day will be used to discuss and present some best practices of inclusive urbanization.

Resources:

• DESA Forum Nairobi Recommendations on advancing disability inclusion and Accessible Urban Development (Nairobi, DESA Forum on Disability and Development, 30 Oct 2015) (PDF)
• Disability, Accessibility and Urban Development
• UN-HABITAT III
• Making Cities Resilient, UNISDR
• DESA/DSPD Forum on inclusive urbanization, Nairobi, 28-30 October 2015
• State of the World’s Cities, UN Habitat Report (2012)
• Accessibility of Housing. A Handbook of Inclusive Affordable Housing Solutions for Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons (UN Habitat, 2014)

Improving disability data and statistics

The lack of data and information on disability and the situation of persons with disabilities at the national level contribute to the invisibility of persons with disabilities in official statistics. This presents a major obstacle to achieving development planning and implementation that is inclusive of persons with disabilities. In particular, to be internationally comparable, data should be collected in line with international standards. Data collected can be used the implementation and monitoring of internationally agreed development goals for persons with disabilities, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The International Day will be used to highlight measures to strengthen national capacities to improve and mainstream disability data collection, based on existing good practices. The Day will also be used to highlight challenges and map out strategies to involve persons with disabilities and their organizations in disability data and statistics collection and dissemination.

Resources:

• Monitoring and Evaluation of Inclusive Development
• International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), World Health Organization
• Measuring Disability Prevalence, The World Bank (2007)

Including persons with invisible disabilities in society and development

Persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities represent a significant proportion of the world’s population. Millions of people worldwide have mental health conditions and an estimated one in four people globally will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. Almost one million people die due to suicide every year, and it is the third leading cause of death among young people. Persons  with mental and psychosocial disabilities often face stigma and discrimination (World Health Organization), as well as experience high levels of physical and sexual abuse that occur in a range of settings, including prisons, hospitals and homes. Persons with other invisible disabilities, such as persons with hearing impairments, are also at risk of exclusion from mainstream activities, education or social activities.

The International Day can be used to draw attention on the situation of persons with invisible disabilities, such as mental health and psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities, as well as hearing impairments. The Day can be used to identify good practices of integrative and inclusive education, to organize social activities and awareness raising initiatives, as well as highlight good practices and make recommendations.

Resources:

• Mental Health and Development
• Mental Health and Rehabilitation, World Health Organization
• Mental Health Atlas (World Health Organisation, 2014)
• Making Mental Health a Global Development Priority (meeting to coincide with the World Bank Group/IMF Spring Meeting, April 2016)
• Mental Health Brief (brief by The World Bank, August 2015)

http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1637