General Assembly Resolution 31/123

International Year for Disabled Persons

The General Assembly,

Reaffirming its deep-rooted faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the principles of peace, the dignity and worth of the human person and the promotion of social justice, as proclaimed by the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling its resolution 2856 (XXVI) of 20 December 1971 proclaiming the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons,

Recalling its resolution 3447 (XXX) of 9 December 1975 proclaiming the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons,

Recalling its resolution 31/82 of 13 December 1976 on the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons,

1.   Proclaims the year 1981 International Year for Disabled Persons, with the theme “full participation”;

2. Decides to devote that year to the realization of a set of objectives, including:

(a) Helping disabled persons in their physical and psychological adjustment to society;

(b) Promoting all national and international efforts to provide disabled persons with proper assistance, training, care and guidance, to make available to them opportunities for suitable work and to ensure their full integration in society;

(c) Encouraging study and research projects designed to facilitate the practical participation of disabled persons in daily life, for example by improving their access to public buildings and transportation systems;

(d) Educating and informing the public of the rights of disabled persons to participate in and contribute to various aspects of economic, social and political life;

(e) Promoting effective measures for the prevention of disability and for the rehabilitation of disabled persons.

3. Invites all Member States and the organizations concerned to give their attention to the establishment of measures and programmes to implement the objectives of the International year for Disabled Persons;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate, in consultation with Member States, specialized agencies and the organizations concerned, and to submit to the General Assembly at its thirty-second session a draft programme for the International Year for Disabled Persons;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-second session an item entitled “International Year for Disabled Persons”.

102 nd plenary meeting, 16 December 1976