What’s the history of this day?
It was in 1976 when the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons. It is during that period a plan of action has been decided at the national, regional and International levels for the section of our population.
The day is observed to create awareness about the rights of people dealing with disabilities in the society and focused on ensuring their development.
What’s the significance of this Day?
Around 15 per cent of the world’s population, or estimated 1 billion people, live with disabilities, as per the WHO estimates. The group forms the world’s largest minority. This number is on the rise because of the population growth, medical advances and the ageing process. In countries with life expectancy over 70 years, individuals spend on average about 8 years, or 11.5 per cent of their life span, living with disabilities.
Around 80% people with disabilities live in developing countries, according to the UN Development Programme. The day is dedicated to their cause and aims to spread awareness in every aspect of social, political, economic and cultural life.
It is important to ensure that the barriers to their inclusion are eliminated and specially abled people are empowered to fully participate in societal life, the community of persons with disabilities benefits. Therefore, accessibility is necessary to accomplish progress and a detriment to society as a whole.
What's 2020 theme ?
2020 has made life difficult for everyone, specially abled people, who are not treated well under normal conditions. It has brought more challenges with less access to health care, employment, in the community etc. Specially abled people remain most vulnerable in the present pandemic situation as a result of health, social and environmental barriers, discriminatory attitudes and inaccessible infrastructure.
In 2020, the UN’s theme is “Building Back Better: toward a disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable post COVID-19 World”. WHO supported this theme by underlining the importance of fostering an inclusive culture and responding to the urgent needs of people with disability in all aspects of society, especially during the pandemic.
It will also organize a Global Awareness Raising Campaign “Tell our stories, enable our rights” on its official social media channels, focusing on the impact of the pandemic on people living with disabilities and on the immediate response to the crisis through open, inclusive and innovative use of digital solutions, tools and resources.