International Day of Persons with Disabilities

What is it?

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

Theme for IDPD 2017: Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all

Previous celebrations:

• 2016: Achieving 17 Goals for the Future We Want
• 2015: Inclusion matters: access and empowerment of people of all abilities
• 2014: Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology
• 2013: Break Barriers, Open Doors: for an inclusive society and development for all
• 2012: Removing barriers to create an inclusive and accessible society for all
• 2011: Together for a better world for all: Including persons with disabilities in development
• 2010: Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond
• 2009: Making the MDGs Inclusive: Empowerment of persons with disabilities and their communities around the world
• 2008: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us
• 2007: Decent work for persons with disabilities
• 2006: E-Accessibility
• 2005: Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development
• 2004: Nothing about Us without Us
• 2003: A voice of our own
• 2002: Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihoods
• 2001: Full participation and equality: The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome
• 2000: Making information technologies work for all
• 1999: Accessibility for all for the new Millennium
• 1998: Arts, Culture and Independent Living

Read: Draft Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities