| About the Decade
Decade
Background
Mandates for Action
The Launching of
the Decade
The Governments of 58 per cent of the world's population
made a historic decision in the concluding year of
the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992).
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (ESCAP), at its forty-eighth session in April
1992, declared the period 1993 to 2002 as the Asian
and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons.
The unique regional initiative was launched at a
meeting convened by ESCAP at Beijing in December 1992.
That meeting adopted the Proclamation on the Full
Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities
in the Asian and Pacific Region, and the Agenda for
Action for the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons. The Proclamation and Agenda for Action for
the Decade were endorsed by the Commission at its
forty-ninth session in April 1993.
The issuance of the above-mentioned landmark documents
is aimed at encouraging their implementation by:
Government Ministries and Departments:
Non-governmental organizations;
International organizations, including United Nations
agencies and bodies;
Individuals committed to the full participation and
equality of people with disabilities in the Asian
and Pacific region.
The primary focus of Decade action is the expansion
of opportunities for the full participation of people
with disabilities in society and their equality in
the development process. It is in villages, towns,
cities and the myriad communities of the region that
the lives of people with disabilities must improve
through the impetus of the Decade.
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Decade Resolution
Commission resolution 48/3 on the Asian and Pacific
Decade of Disabled Persons, 1993 - 2002
Recalling all General Assembly and Economic and Social
Council resolutions on disability matters, including
General Assembly resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982,
by which the Assembly adopted the World Programme
of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and resolution
37/53 of 3 December 1982, on the implementation of
the World Programme of Action, in which, inter alia,
it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the United Nations
Decade of Disabled Persons,
Recalling also Commission resolution 207 (XXXVI)
of 29 March 1980, concerning effective implementation
and follow-up of the objectives of the International
Year of Disabled Persons, "Full participation
and equality",
Mindful that the risk of disability increases with
age and that, with the expected rapid ageing of the
societies in the region, the number of disabled persons
will increase substantially,
Recognizing that while the United Nations Decade
of Disabled Persons has increased awareness of disability
issues and has facilitated considerable progress in
the prevention of disability and the rehabilitation
of disabled persons in the ESCAP region, progress
towards improving the situation of disabled persons
has been uneven, particularly in the developing and
least developed countries,
Noting that the Expert Group Meeting to Review and
Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade
of Disabled Persons in the Asian and Pacific Region,
held in August 1991, and convened by ESCAP, recognized
that there was a need for a second decade of disabled
persons to consolidate the gains achieved thus far
in the ESCAP region,
Noting further that the Fourth Asian and Pacific
Ministerial Conference on Social Welfare and Social
Development, held in October 1991, expressed support
for the declaration of a second decade of disabled
persons,
1. Proclaims the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled
Persons, 1993-2002, with a view to giving fresh impetus
to the implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons in the ESCAP region beyond
1992 and strengthening regional cooperation to resolve
issues affecting the achievement of the goals of the
World Programme of Action, especially those concerning
the full participation and equality of persons with
disabilities;
2. Requests the Economic and Social Council and the
General Assembly to endorse the present resolution
and to encourage, at the global level, support for
its implementation;
3. Urges all member and associate member Governments
to review the situation of disabled persons in their
countries and areas, with a view to developing measures
that enhance the equality and full participation of
disabled persons, including the following:
(a) Formulation and implementation of national
policies and programmes to promote the participation
of persons with disabilities in economic and social
development;
(b) Establishment and strengthening of national
coordinating committees on disability matters, with
emphasis on, inter alia, the adequate and effective
representation of disabled persons and their organizations,
and their roles therein;
(c) Provision of assistance, in collaboration with
international development agencies and non-governmental
organizations, in enhancing community-based support
services for disabled persons and the extension
of services to their families;
(d) Promotion of special efforts to foster positive
attitudes towards children and adults with disabilities,
and the undertaking of measures to improve their
access to rehabilitation, education, employment,
cultural and sports activities and the physical
environment;
4. Urges all concerned specialized agencies and bodies
of the United Nations system to undertake an examination
of their ongoing programmes and projects in the ESCAP
region, with a view to integrating disability concerns
into their work programmes systematically and supporting
national implementation of the present resolution;
5. Calls upon non-governmental organizations in the
field of social development to utilize their experience
and expertise in strengthening the capabilities and
activities of organizations of disabled persons;
6. Urges organizations of disabled persons to cooperate
with government agencies in strengthening means by
which citizens with disabilities may realize their
full potential, and to strengthen linkages among disabled
persons in developed and developing countries to enhance
their self-help capacity;
7. Requests the Executive Secretary to assist, subject
to available financial resources, member and associate
member Governments in the following:
(a) Developing and pursuing national programmes
of action during the forthcoming Decade;
(b) Formulating and implementing technical guidelines
and legislation to promote access by disabled persons
to buildings, public facilities, transport and communications
systems, information, education and training, and
technical aids;
8. Further requests the Executive Secretary to report
to the Commission biennially until the end of the
Decade on the progress made in the implementation
of the present resolution and to submit recommendations
to the Commission, as required, on action to maintain
the momentum of the Decade.
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Proclamation
on the Full Participation and Equality of People
with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region
1. We the government leaders of ESCAP members and
associate members recognize that:
Every day in this region people are being disabled
due to malnutrition and disease, environmental hazards,
natural disasters, traffic and industrial accidents,
civil conflict and war.
As a concomitant of improvements in child survival,
the numbers of children surviving with disabilities
are increasing.
As more people survive to older age, the numbers
of elderly people with disabilities are rising.
The living conditions of large numbers of people with
disabilities, especially those in rural areas, need
to be further improved.
2. We note that in Asian and Pacific societies, minimum
care and service are, to a large extent, provided
for people with disabilities in the traditional family
and community context. However, much more must be
done to enable persons with disabilities to develop
their full potential so that they may live as agents
of their own destiny in the rapidly changing economic
and social conditions of the region.
3. Throughout the region, the opportunities for full
participation and equality for people with disabilities,
especially in the fields of rehabilitation, education
and employment, continue to be far less than those
for their non-disabled peers. This is largely because
negative social attitudes exclude persons with disabilities
from an equal share in their entitlements as citizens.
Such attitudes also curtail the opportunities of people
with disabilities for social contact and close personal
relationships with others. The social stigma associated
all too often with disabilities must be eradicated.
4. The built environment throughout much of Asia
and the Pacific has been designed without consideration
for the special needs of persons with disabilities.
Physical obstacles and social barriers prevent citizens
with disabilities from participating in community
and national life. The various impediments to participation
and equality are especially formidable for girls and
women with disabilities. With improved attitudes,
increased awareness and much care, we can build social
and physical environments that are accessible for
all, i.e., we must work towards a society for all.
In this regard, we urge the free exchange of information.
5. We take pride in the fact that in economic terms,
Asia and the Pacific is the fastest growing region
in the world today. We are also aware that countries
in this region are at different levels of development.
We resolve that economic progress will also be reflected
in the efforts that we devote to this extremely vulnerable
social group in our societies: people with disabilities.
6. We welcome the adoption by the Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific of resolution
48/3 on the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons,
1993-2002, as a catalyst for effective new policy
initiatives and actions at national, sub-regional
and regional levels aimed at systematically improving
the conditions of people with disabilities, who constitute
approximately one-tenth of our total population, and
for harnessing their full development potential.
7. We thus proclaim and pledge our joint commitment
to translating into action in our respective countries
and territories the ideals and objectives of the Asian
and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, and confirm
our continued endeavour in accordance with the United
Nations Charter's affirmation of faith "... in
the dignity and worth of the human person...."
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Proclamation
concernant la pleine participation et l'egalite des
handicapes
dans la region de l'Asie et du Pacifique
1. Les dirigeants des membres et membres
associés de la CESAP reconnaissent :
Que chaque jour dans la région des gens sont
frappés d'incapacités causées
par la malnutrition et la maladie, des risques environnementaux,
des catastrophes naturelles, des accidents industriels,
des accidents de la circulation, des conflits civils
et des guerres,
Que. parallèlement à l'accroissement
du taux de survie des enfants, le nombre de ceux-ci
qui sont frappés d’incapacités
augmente lui aussi,
Qu'à mesure qu'augmente le nombre des personnes
qui atteignent un âge avancé, le nombre
de celles d'entre elles qui sont frappées d'incapacités
s'accroît également,
Qu'il y a lieu d'améliorer encore les conditions
de vie de nombreux handicapés, notamment dans
les zones rurales.
2. Ils notent, que dans les sociétés
de l'Asie et du Pacifique, c'est dans le cadre familial
et communautaire traditionnels que les handicapés
reçoivent essentiellement les soins et services
minimaux dont ils ont besoin. Toutefois, il faut encore
faire beaucoup plus pour permettre aux handicapés
de développer pleinement leur potentiel de
manière à pouvoir être maîtres
de leur propre destinée compte tenu de l'évolution
rapide de la situation économique et sociale
dans la région.
3. Partout dans la région, les possibilités
de pleine participation et d'égalité,
en particulier dans les domaines de la réadaptation,
de l'éducation et de l'emploi, demeurent beaucoup
plus limitées pour les handicapés que
pour les autres. Cela tient essentiellement à
des attitudes sociales négatives qui empêchent
ces derniers de bénéficier de tous leurs
droits en tant que citoyens. De telles attitudes font
également que les handicapés ont moins
de possibilité de contacts sociaux et de rapports
personnels étroits avec d'autres. II convient
d'éliminer les préjugés sociaux
trop souvent liés aux incapacités.
4. Dans une bonne partie de la région de l'Asie
et du Pacifique, les bâtiments et infrastructures
ont souvent été conçus sans tenir
compte des besoins particuliers des handicapés.
Des obstacles physiques et sociaux empêchent
les citoyens atteints d'incapacités de participer
à la vie communautaire et nationale. Les divers
facteurs qui gênent la participation et nuisent
à l'égalité sont particulièrement
redoutables pour les jeunes filles et les femmes atteintes
d’incapacités. En améliorant les
comportements, en sensibilisant davantage l'opinion
et en manifestant une grande compassion, il est possible
d'édifier un environnement social et physique
qui convienne à tout le monde; en d'autres
termes, il s’agit d'oeuvrer en faveur d'une
société où tous auront leur place.
À cet égard, les signataires recommandent
vivement le libre échange d’informations.
5. Ils constatent avec fierté que, sur le
plan économique, la région Asie-Pacifique
est celle qui connaît aujourd'hui la croissance
la plus rapide. Ils n'ignorent pas par ailleurs que
les pays de cette région n'en sont pas tous
au même stade de développement. Ils promettent
de faire en sorte que le progrès économique
se ressente également dans leur action en faveur
de ce groupe social extrêmement vulnérable
que sont les handicapés.
6. Ils se félicitent de l'adoption par la
Commission économique et sociale pour l'Asie
et le Pacifique de la résolution 48/3 sur la
Décennie Asie-Pacifique pour les handicapés
(1993-2002) appelée à jouer le rôle
de catalyseur pour l'adoption, aux niveaux national,
sous-régional et régional, de nouvelles
politiques et mesures destinées à améliorer
systématiquement la situation des handicapés,
qui représentent approximativement un dixième
de la population totale de la région, et à
tirer parti de tout leur potentiel au regard du développement.
7. Ils proclament en conséquence leur volonté
commune de concrétiser, dans leurs pays et
territoires respectifs, les idéaux er objectifs
de la Décennie Asie-Pacifique pour les handicapés
et confirment qu'ils continueront d'oeuvrer sans relâche
dans ce sens conformément à la profession
de foi "... en la dignité et valeur de
la personne humaine..." contenue dans la Charte
des Nations Unies.
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Signatories
of the Proclamation So far 41 of 61 governments of
the ESCAP region have signed the Proclamation on the
Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities
in the Asian and Pacific Region.
Below is a list of the governments that have signed
the Proclamation as of 1 September 2001.
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- China
- Cook Islands
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Fiji
- Guam
- Hong Kong, China
- India
- Indonesia
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgystan
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands (The)
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Mongolia
- Myanmar, Union of
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Niue
- Palau
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Republic of Korea
- Samoa
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Tonga
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Viet Nam
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