54/121. Implementation of the World Programme of
Action concerning Disabled Persons:
towards a society for all in the twenty-first century
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/54/595)]
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The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it
adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 48/96 [1]
of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, 49/153 of 23 December 1994, 50/144 of 21
December 1995 and 52/82 of 12 December 1997,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolutions 1997/19,
on equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, and 1997/20, on children
with disabilities, of 21 July 1997 and Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/31, on
the human rights of persons with disabilities, of 17 April 1998, [2]
Recalling further the purposes and principles of the Charter of
the United Nations, and reaffirming the obligations contained in relevant human rights
instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women [3] and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, [4]
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences
and summits and their respective follow-up reviews, in particular as they pertain to the
promotion of the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities,
Noting with appreciation the important contributions of
subregional, regional and international seminars and conferences related to persons with
disabilities, such as the Fifth World Assembly of Disabled Peoples' International, held at
Mexico City from 1 to 7 December 1998, on the theme "Towards an inclusive
twenty-first century",
Expressing grave concern that situations of armed conflict have
especially devastating consequences for the human rights of persons with disabilities,
Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and
strategies to promote the rights and the full and effective participation of persons with
disabilities in economic, social, cultural and political life, on the basis of equality,
to achieve a society for all,
Concerned that improvement of disability awareness and
sensitivity to disability issues has not been significant enough to improve the quality of
life of persons with disabilities worldwide,
Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on
disability-sensitive policies, programme planning and evaluation and the need for further
development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of
data on populations with disabilities,
Realizing that technology, in particular information technology,
provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment for persons with
disabilities and facilitating their full participation and equality, and welcoming the
initiatives of the United Nations in promoting information technology as a means of
achieving the universal goal of a society for all,
1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the
Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning
Disabled Persons; [5]
2. Welcomes the initiatives of Governments to enhance the rights
of persons with disabilities and for the further equalization of opportunities by, for and
with persons with disabilities, and also welcomes the contribution of the United Nations
system and non-governmental organizations, as appropriate, in this regard;
3. Notes with appreciation the valuable work undertaken by the
Special Rapporteur for monitoring the implementation of the Standard Rules on the
Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities of the Commission for Social
Development under his second mandate for the period 1997-2000;
4. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and the
private sector, as appropriate, to take concrete measures to promote the implementation of
relevant United Nations resolutions and agreed international standards concerning persons
with disabilities, in particular the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities
for Persons with Disabilities, and for the further equalization of opportunities for
persons with disabilities by focusing on accessibility, health, social services, including
training and rehabilitation, safety nets, employment and sustainable livelihoods, in the
design and implementation of strategies, policies and programmes to promote a more
inclusive society;
5. Calls upon Governments to undertake all necessary measures to
advance beyond the adoption of national plans for people with disabilities through, inter
alia, the creation or reinforcement of arrangements for the promotion and awareness of
disability issues and the allocation of sufficient resources for the full implementation
of existing plans and initiatives, and emphasizes the importance of supporting national
efforts through international cooperation in this regard;
6. Encourages Governments and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations to take practical actions, including public information
campaigns, by, for and with persons with disabilities, with a view to increasing
disability awareness and sensitivity to disability issues and to combating and overcoming
discrimination against persons with disabilities and in order to further their full and
effective participation in society;
7. Encourages Governments to continue their support to
non-governmental organizations contributing to the fulfilment of the implementation of the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
8. Also encourages Governments to involve persons with
disabilities in the formulation of strategies and plans aimed at eradicating poverty,
promoting education and enhancing employment;
9. Urges relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations
system, including relevant human rights treaty bodies and the regional commissions, as
well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions, to work
closely with the programme on disability of the Division for Social Policy and Development
of the Secretariat in the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, including
activities at the field level, by sharing experiences, findings and recommendations on
persons with disabilities;
10. Urges Governments to cooperate with the Statistics Division
of the Secretariat in the continued development of global statistics and indicators on
disability, and encourages them to avail themselves of the technical assistance of the
Division to build national capacities for national data-collection systems, as needed;
11. Also urges Governments, in collaboration with the United
Nations system, to give special attention to the rights, needs and well-being of children
with disabilities and their families in the development of policies and programmes;
12. Encourages Governments, concerned non-governmental
organizations and the private sector to continue to support the United Nations Voluntary
Fund on Disability with a view to implementing fully the World Programme of Action and the
Standard Rules, including the work of the Special Rapporteur, and to support activities to
build national capacities, with emphasis on priorities identified in resolution 52/82;
13. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support
initiatives of relevant bodies and organizations of the United Nations system, as well as
those of regional, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions,
for the promotion of the human rights of persons with disabilities and the further
implementation of the World Programme of Action and in their efforts to integrate persons
with disabilities in technical cooperation activities, both as beneficiaries and as
decision makers;
14. Also requests the Secretary-General to include, in his
assessments of the implementation of the outcome of major United Nations conferences and
summits to be considered at the forthcoming special sessions of the General Assembly, the
contribution of these meetings to the promotion of the rights and well-being of persons
with disabilities;
15. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his
efforts in improving the accessibility of the United Nations for persons with
disabilities, and urges him to continue to implement plans to provide a barrier-free
environment, as well as information in an accessible format and communication services;
16. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General
Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, through the Commission for Social Development at its
thirty-ninth session, a report on the implementation of the present resolution.
83rd plenary meeting
17 December 1999
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1 A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII,
recommendation I (IV).
2 See Official Records of the Economic and Social
Council, 1998, Supplement No. 3 (E/1998/23), chap. II, sect. A.
3 Resolution 34/180, annex.
4 Resolution 44/25, annex.
5 A/54/388 and Add.1.
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