International Day of Disabled Persons (3 December 2003)

The International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. The annual observance of the Day aims to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilise support for practical action at all levels, by, with and for persons with disabilities. The theme for the observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons in 2003 is "A Voice of our Own."

The observance of the Day in 2003 will focus on giving a voice to the human experiences of disabled persons. The voice of persons with disabilities is seldom heard in the mainstream media. When persons with disabilities are portrayed, they are either stereotyped or presented as an inspiration for “overcoming” a disability. Observance of the Day should therefore be used to offer an opportunity for persons with disabilities to speak for themselves.

(Source: UN Department of Public Information)

News

UN treaty to protect persons with disabilities should be ready in two years (30.06.2003)
European Year of People with Disabilities should not be limited to within EU borders (30.01.2003)
We want to be heard and influence our own lives, disabled people say (3.12.2002)
Disability is a human rights issue, says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (3 December 2002)
Ecuador: Remarkable efforts to promote rights of disabled persons (20.09.2002)
Talks advance on UN treaty for disabled persons (9.08.2002)

Selected learning materials

The Disabled: "Making Our Own Charter"
The exercise in this manual (Popular Education for Human Rights) is highly participatory and can be adapted to diverse settings and cultures.

Useful links

United Nations International Day of Disabled Persons 2003 site

Suggestions on how the Day may be observed

European Year of Disabled Persons 2003

International and regional treaties on the rights of the disabled:
- Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons
- Convention on the Rights of the Child
- European Social Charter
- ILO Code of Practice on Managing Disability in the Workplace
- Other treaties on the rights of disabled persons (University of Minnesota Human Rights Library)

Other International Days