24 May 1990

13th Plenary Meeting

1990/26. Equalization of opportunities for disabled persons

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling the United Nations instruments and declarations, as well as other international instruments, that protect the rights of all persons,

Recalling in particular the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly at its thirtieth session,

Noting that in the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons was defined as the process through which the general system of society, such as the physical and cultural environment, housing and transportation, social and health services, educational and work opportunities, cultural and social life, including sports and recreational facilities, are made accessible to all,

Mindful that the objective of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, proclaimed by the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, was conceived as the beginning of the effective implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,

Recalling that the Global Meeting of Experts, convened by the United Nations and the Government of Sweden at Stockholm in 1987, the mid-point of the Decade, reviewed progress made towards the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,

Aware that the Global Meeting of Experts identified a number of serious shortcomings with regard to the implementation of the World Programme of Action,

Concerned that, with the approach of the end of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, in 1992, important social, economic, political, cultural and other barriers still exist, which prevent disabled children, youth and adults from participating fully in all aspects of life,

Taking into consideration the fact that the Tallinn Guidelines for Action on Human Resources Development in the Field of Disability, annexed to General Assembly resolution 44/70 of 8 December 1989, further elaborated the goals of the World Programme of Action,

Noting that questions concerning the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons were considered at the Meeting of Experts on Alternative Ways to Mark the End of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, held at Jarvenpaa, Finland, from 7 to 10 May 1990, which was organized jointly by the United Nations and the Government of Finland,

Recalling Commission for Social Development resolution 31/3 on the improvement of the work of the Commission,

Convinced that further measures are necessary to ensure the full integration of disabled persons in society,

1. Authorizes the Commission for Social Development to consider, at its thirty-second session, the establishment of an ad hoc open-ended working group of government experts, funded by voluntary contributions, to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for disabled children, youth and adults, in close collaboration with the specialized agencies, other intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of disabled persons themselves;

2. Requests the Commission for Social Development, should it establish such a working group, to finalize the text of those rules for consideration by the Council at its first regular session of 1993 and for submission to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session.