International Day of Persons with Disabilities

• 06 Dec 2021

Why in News

Every year on 3^rd December, International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed.

• Earlier, the draft norms for ensuring accessibility for the differently abled at airports has been released by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Disability

• A disability is a condition or function judged to be significantly impaired relative to the usual standard of an individual of their group.
• The term is often used to refer to individual functioning, including physical impairment, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, intellectual impairment, mental illness, and various types of chronic disease.
• This usage has been described by some disabled people as being associated with a medical model of disability.

Key Points

• Background:
  
  • The annual observance of this day began in 1992 after it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3.
  • In 2006, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was also adopted.
  • It aims at working towards creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities through the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
• About:
  
  • The day is observed to promote the rights and well-being of people with disabilities at every level of society and development.
  • It also aims to raise awareness of the situations of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic and cultural life.
• Data related to Persons with Disabilities:
  
  • According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people experience disability, and this figure is predicted to rise, due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
  • As per the National Statistics Office report on disability released last year (2020), about 2.2% of India’s population lives with some kind of physical or mental disability.
• Theme for 2021:
  
  • ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-Covid-19 world’.
• Related Initiatives:
  
  • Global:
    
    • World Programme of Action (WPA): It is a global strategy to enhance disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities, which pertains to full participation of persons with disabilities in social life and national development. The WPA also emphasizes the need to approach disability from a human rights perspective.
  • India’s:
    
    • Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Portal
    • Accessible India Campaign
    • DeenDayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme
    • Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP)

Related Observances

• 4^th January: World Braille Day
• 21^st March: World Down Syndrome Day
• 2^nd April: World Autism Day
• 23^rd September: International Day of Sign Languages
• 10^th December: Human Rights Day

Source: PIB