8 December 1981

International Year of Disabled Persons

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 31/123 of 16 December 1976, by which it proclaimed the year 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons,

Recalling also its resolutions 32/133 of 16 December 1977, by which it established the Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons, 33/170 of 20 December 1978, 34/154 of 17 December 1979, in which it, inter alia, decided to expand the theme of the International Year of Disabled Persons to "Full participation and equality", and 35/133 of 13 December 1980,

Deeply concerned that no less than five hundred million persons are estimated to suffer from disability of one form or another, of whom four hundred million are estimated to be in the developing countries,

Reiterating the continuing need to promote the realization of the right of disabled persons to participate fully in the social life and development of their societies and to enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens, as well as an equal share in the improvements in living conditions resulting from social and economic development,

Recognizing the the observance of the International Year of Disabled Persons has contributed to the attainment of these objectives,

Recognizing also that a large number of disabled persons are victims of war and other forms of violence, and that the International Year of Disabled Persons has contributed towards the reaffirmation of the need for continued and reinforced co-operation among nations for world peace,

Believing that the activities undertaken by the international community in observing the International Year of Disabled Persons constitute a first essential step towards the achievement of the objectives of the Year,

Convinced that the timely and significant impetus generated by the activities of the International Year of Disabled Persons should be maintained and reinforced with appropriate follow-up action at all levels,

Taking note of the efforts of Member States during the International Year of Disabled Persons to improve the conditions and well-being of the disabled,

Expresses its satisfaction at the convening of the World Symposium of Experts on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries and Technical Assistance in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, at Vienna, Austria, from 12 to 23 October 1981,

Expresses also its satisfaction at the convening of the World Conference on Actions and Strategies for Education, Prevention and Integration, at Torremolinos, Spain, from 2 to 7 November 1981, organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in observance of the Year,

Taking note with appreciation of the progress made in the elaboration of a World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of resolution 35/133,

Having also considered the report of the Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons on its third session,

1. Expresses its satisfaction to all Member States which elaborated national policies and programmes for the implementation of the objectives of the International Year of Disabled Persons;

2. Takes note of the activities undertaken by organizations of the United Nations system and the relevant non-governmental organizations in the observance of the International Year of Disabled Persons;

3. Urges Member States to make every effort to consolidate and build further on the results of the International Year of Disabled Persons in order to secure prevention of disabilty, rehabilitation and full integration of the disabled in the society and, in this respect, to consider maintaining, where appropriate, the national committees or similar bodies established for the Year;

4. Again invites Member States to submit national reports to the Secretary-General on their implementation of the Plan of Action for the International Year of Disabled Persons and, in particular, to consider elaborating, on the basis of their experiences, national long-term programmes of action in the field of

disability;

5. Requests the Secretary-General to convene in 1982 a meeting of the Advisory Committee of the International Year of Disabled Persons to finalize the draft World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, in the light of comments by Member States, international organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, with a view to its adoption by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

6. Requests the Advisory Committee to consider at its fourth session the advisability of proclaiming the period 1983-1992 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons and to submit its views to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

7. Requests the Advisory Committee to study the possibility of creating an optional international identity card for disabled perons with the purpose of facilitating the international travel of disabled persons;

8. Urges the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to assure the successful follow-up of the International Year of Disabled Persons, in particular the finalization of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;

9. Also requests the Secretary-General and heads of specialized agencies and other relevant organizations of the United Nations system to ensure necessary co-operation and co-ordination of their activities relating to the disabled;

10. Further requests the regional commissions to give high priority to the formulation and implementation of regional programmes related to equalization of opportunities for disabled persons, as well as prevention and rehabilitation, and urges the specialized agencies and relevant organs of the United Nations system to continue the implementation of such programmes;

11. Invites relevant non-governmental organizations to continue and expand their programmes related to the disabled in order to maintain the momentum given by the International Year of Disabled Persons;

12. Welcomes the contributions made by Governments and private sources to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled Persons and appeals for further voluntary contributions which would facilitate the follow-up of the Year;

13. Calls upon the Secretary-General to use an appropriate portion of those voluntary contributions to support and strengthen activities in the developing countries related to International Year of Disabled Persons, including the strengthening of organizations of disabled persons;

14. Urges the Secretary-General, the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies and organizations to undertake or expedite the measures already under way to improve employment opportunities for disabled persons within these bodies at all levels and to improve access to their buildings and facilities and to their information sources;

15. Invites Member States to promote close and effective co-operation between developed and developing countries through a transfer of technology and of the results of research and exchanges of information on the prevention of disability and the rehabilitation of disabled persons;

16. Also calls upon the Secretary-General and the heads of the specialized agencies to take all necessary measures to strengthen and expand technical co-operation activities in developing countries relating to the disabled, especially in the areas of prevention of disability, rehabilitation and integration of disabled in their societies, with particular emphasis on the need to develop and strengthen indigneous capacities and capabilities;

17. Stresses the importance of strengthening support services for the exchange of technical information and transfer of technology and know how, as well as other activities for the development of technical co-operation in the fields of prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities in developing countries, and notes with appreciation the offer of the Government of Yugoslavia to contribute in this direction;

18. Invites, as a matter of priority, Member States, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations concerned and mass media, to continue to undertake public information programmes, including the continuation of the present information activities of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs for the national committees, with a view to making all sections of the population increasingly aware of issues relating to the disabled;

19. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session an item entitled "World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons" and requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at that session on the implementation of the present resolution.