Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Dec. 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities


The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, established by the United Nations, is December 3, 2008. This year’s themes are Dignity and Justice, and the "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and Justice for All of Us". It is also the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

About 10% of the world’s population (650 million people) has disabilities. However, many people with disabilities still do not have rights equal recognition before the law and legal, freedom of expression and opinion, and the right to participate in political and public life. About 80% of the global population of people with disabilities, or about 400 million people live in poor countries where a significant link between poverty and disability exist.

The UN. Enable website says, “2008 is a significant year in the international human rights movement, given the entry into force on 3 May of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol, legally binding instruments which set out the legal obligations of States to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities”.

To find out which countries have ratified the Convention, and which have not, visit the UN website at: http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?navid=18&pid=257

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was a very interesting blog at caught my attention. I believe every person wether black, white, PWD, PWOD, or any person should have the right to make his or her own decision. A person with a disability is just as normal as a person without a disability. We all all humans and have equal rights. I know that in many cases that may not happen but that needs to change. There should be no discrimination and we are no one to be judging people. The two themes that are mentioned are dignity and justice. Justice is simply on being fair and that is how everyone should be treated, fair and equal no matter PWO or PWOD. Everyone should speak up and not be afraid to speak their mind.
Tracy S.

Anonymous said...

Its a good blog where we can see there are a lot of people with disabilities around the world who need also attention and opportunities to have a normal life like here in U.S. Its good to know more about important subjects like different type of disabilities's rules, daily living activities, different aids, etc... Its good to be realistic and have more knowledge about this matter.
Claudia P.

Anonymous said...

I was not aware that there was an International Day of Persons with Disabilities reserved for December 3rd. You really do learn something new everyday! The percentages of Americans, and people all over the world with Disabilities is shocking. I never knew the amount till this blog. Its interesting to see how Disabilities affect a great number of the world's population. There needs to be a greater understanding for people with disabilities because it can affect everyone.
Stephanie P

Anonymous said...

I don’t know why but I am always shocked to read about the unusually high rate of people with disabilities within poor countries. According to this blog “About 80% of the global population of people with disabilities, live in poor countries” while I am glad to hear that the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities has been so successful in advocating for the rights of these people, I feel that as advocates we should also take a look at disabilities within this countries using a wider approach. While it may be beyond a rehab professional’s job criteria, I feel that those in the rehab profession should also advocate for the needs of all people living in these poor countries who may be at a higher risk of obtaing a disablity.In order to prevent the causes of many of these disabilities.
Since I am sure that many of these disabilities that occur within these countries are probably preventable with modern medicine.
Cris M.

Anonymous said...

I did not know that the ONU settle a day for people with disabilities, but I think is great, everyone deserves one, and mostly those that had been in a constant fighting for their equal rights, like people with disabilities, which I personally admire, for overcome with sucess in all the boundaries that society has imposed.
Emma C.

Anonymous said...

I believe the world/Gov't is trying to show that side of themselves or maybe its just a media stunt, as you can see i dont have much faith in our gov't; media is used to shape us, our minds and thoughts, our actions. Through my classes i have realized that pwd's are people and want to be seen as people no matter how they look to the naked eye, but this world has a hard time looking at the who the person is internally, they stay stuck on the gender or color or disability or weight. It's hard no matter who you are and i could imagine its even harder for someone with a disability because for the most part they are not seen as a whole person or a real person. But the world is changing; look at our new president, and now a day of persons with disabilities! keep it up! i had no idea there were that many people with disabilities they need to be recognized everyone makes this world therefore everyone should be allowed to be seen in this world!
Crystal O.

Anonymous said...

This blog caught my attention because I think its good to know that its the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although according to this blog many people do not have the equal rights, freedom of expression and the right to participate in public life its good to atleast some people do and have been helped. I think there is still a lot to do for many people to recieve equal rights and equal treatment,but its good to know that there are new rights being made to protect pwd. Hopefully in some years with the expansion of rehabilitation graduates many people can be helped and the population of pwd living in poverty and not having equal right can diminish.
Alejandrina T.

Anonymous said...

It is good to see that there is a day to recognize people with disabilities. It is important that everyone with a disabilty do have rights. It sad that they do not and some people take advatage of it in a wrong way. It is up to us to spread that word.
Annette M.

Anonymous said...

wow this is great... this can really let everyone know about how many people with disabilities there are and how they do not have equal rights.
Ediel B

Anonymous said...

Interesting!
SAndy H.

Anonymous said...

How cool!
Sandy H.