STATEMENT OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER ON THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED PERSONS

3 December 2002






The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, drew attention today in Geneva to the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons. The High Commissioner called 3 December an opportunity to raise awareness about disability and to encourage full inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of economic, social, cultural and political life.

“We must understand that disability is a human rights issue” the High Commissioner said. Violations of human rights and humanitarian law are often causes of disability. The United Nations estimates that over 600 million people in the world have a disability, and two thirds live in developing countries. Persons with disabilities face different forms of discrimination, including denial of equal education and employment opportunities as well as architectural, transport and social barriers to full participation. The High Commissioner underlined that all forms of discrimination have a common effect. “Discrimination undermines human dignity and deprives persons with disabilities of those basic rights and fundamental freedoms that most of us take for granted”, stated Sergio Vieira de Mello.

The High Commissioner also referred to the process undertaken by the General Assembly to consider proposals for a new international treaty to promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. “I agree with those who have called that decision a landmark in the history of the disability movement”, he said. A new treaty would enhance dramatically the “visibility” of persons with disabilities, and would represent an important step forward in the recognition and protection of their human rights. Sergio Vieira de Mello emphasized that the new treaty must be discussed with the full involvement of organizations of persons with disabilities and that efforts should be made to ensure accessibility of meeting rooms, interpretation into sign language, or availability of documentation in Braille. He also encouraged the participation in the discussions of national human rights institutions (such as Human Rights Commissions or Ombudspersons) that promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.



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