In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly marked the 3rd of December as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities to promote awareness and mobilize support on critical issues pertaining to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society and development, and to ensure equal opportunities for them. This year’s theme is “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all.”

At the end of the United Nations’ Decade for Persons with Disabilities (1983-1992), the UN’s General Assembly declared the 3 December as International Day for People with Disabilities. This was a time to raise global awareness to establish actions for the constant improvement of the situation of people with disabilities and achievement of equal opportunities. With this Day, the Assembly calls upon the member states to encourage the integration into society of people with disabilities through different programmes and campaigns.

This year’s theme is “Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all,” which makes reference to all physical, social and economic barriers that people with disabilities must overcome, as well as attitudes that exclude their participation in a complete and effective way as equal members of society. According to the UN people with disablities “are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest, and lack equal access to basic resources, such as education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems.” Thus, on 23 September 2013, the UN’s General Assembly convened the historic first-ever High-level Meeting on Disability and Development, and adopted a landmark outcome document aimed at promoting disability-inclusive development to guide efforts towards the creation of a fully inclusive society.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Secretary General, Bank Ki-moon, reminds us in his message that “we need to work harder to ensure that infrastructure and services support inclusive, equitable and sustainable development for all.This includes guaranteeing meaningful participation in processes that affect the rights and interests of persons with disabilities by providing an enabling environment.”

Diagrama Foundation celebrates and embraces this Day’s objectives, and works towards ensuring that people with disabilities can claim their right to equality and access to support and services. Thus, Diagrama is working on various projects that raise awareness and look for ways to better provide services for people with disabilities. It aims to ensure that we build a more fair and equal society so that people can achieve their full potential and live happy and independent lives.

For more information about this Day, please visit the UN’s website as well as the High-level Meetings of the 68th Session of the General Assembly.