December 3rd is UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3rd 2010 will mark the 19th annual celebration of the United Nations’ (UN’s) International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This annual celebration was established in 1981 by the International Year for Disabled Persons, to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities.

The theme of this year’s observance is Keeping the Promise: mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals. The UN will mark this milestone with two days of seminars, lectures and a disability film festival, while disability, advocacy and governmental organizations are encouraged to hold celebrations in their own communities.

“Governments need to do more to support people with disabilities. That means implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” remarked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. “On this International Day, let us recognize that the battles against poverty, disease and discrimination will not be won without targeted laws, policies and programs that empower this group.”

For more information on this observance, visit  http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=1540