A landmark report on disability worldwide indicates that there are over one billion people with significant difficulties in functioning, who are facing substantial barriers in their daily lives.
Jointly published by the World Health Organization and the World Bank, this World Report on Disability launched at the UN in New York on 9th June 2011, is the first ever global report on disability. It indicates that the global prevalence of disability is higher than the 10% estimated in the 1970s, at around 15%. This Report contains chapters on health, rehabilitation, assistance and support, enabling environments, education and employment. It also covers the barriers persons with disabilities face such as stigma and discrimination, inaccessible transport and buildings, communications and information technologies, lack of adequate health care and often appropriate rehabilitation services.
The Report also makes recommendations for action to support the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly in December 2006, and which protects the rights and dignity of persons with impairments, and which has been signed by nearly 150 countries and regional organisations, and has more than 100 ratifications.
People with disabilities were involved in all stages of the production of this Report between 2007 and 2011, such as helping with its editing, reviewing, advising and drafting text. Some of them shared their personal stories, parts of which are included in the Report. Disabled People’s Organisations were consulted at the global level.
The collaboration of others involved in disability, rehabilitation and mainstreaming initiatives, included the International Disability and Development Consortium, of which ILEP is a member.
Link: World Report on Disability
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/
• The World Health Organization will be holding a Meeting of Partners Working in Disability and Rehabilitation in Geneva, 27th – 28th June 2011, among others to discuss implementing the World Report on Disability and related Guidelines over the next ten years.
From the UN and WHO Press Centres:
More than one billion people face some form of disability, landmark UN report finds:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/
New world report shows more than 1 billion people with disabilities face substantial barriers in their daily lives
http://www.who.int/
Of further interest:
History of Disability and the United Nations
http://www.un.org/
The United Nations and Disabled Persons: The First 50 Years
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/
Official website for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: http://www.un.
