The 2017 International Day of Persons with Disabilities

This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities was celebrated on 3 December 2017 under the theme “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”. Resilience is central to achieving sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda’s promise to leave no one behind is a commitment to build the capacities of those who face marginalization and exclusion. This will help to reduce their vulnerability to economic, social and environmental shocks.

In recent years, the international community has achieved notable progress in advancing the rights of the world’s one billion persons with disabilities. Disability is recognized as a cross-cutting issue in the 2030 Agenda, the New Urban Agenda and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction.

Despite these advances, persons with disabilities all too often remain excluded from the design, planning and implementation of policies and programmes that have an impact on their lives. They frequently face discrimination in labour markets and in access to education and other services.

“Persons with disabilities must be included and participate in the crafting of development plans and policies,” said the President of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajčák at the opening of the International Day commemoration on 1 December 2017 in New York. “We must reflect their concerns and situation from start to finish, ensuring that they are both accessible and enabling.”

The path towards inclusive, accessible, usable facilities, technologies, infrastructure, services and products must be ensured by, for and with persons with disabilities.

For more information: International Day of Persons with Disabilities