ARTICLE (December 04, 2010) : The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is observed around the World on 3rd of December every year. This year 3rd December was observe under the theme, "Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming Disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond".
The background of the day is that annual observance of the International Day on 3rd December was established on the occasion of an International Year for Disabled Persons (1981) by the United Nations. The day aims to promote a better understanding on disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities and mainstreaming PWDs in every spheres of the political, economic and cultural life of their communities.
The goal of full and effective participation of persons with disabilities, in society and development was establish by the world programme of action concerning disabled persons adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982. Through the world programme of action concerning disabled persons (1982) and the standard rules on equalisation of opportunities for persons with disabilities (1993), the well being and rights of PWDs may be promoted.
These commitments provide an international policy framework, which has been further strengthened by the newly adopted Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted in 2006. The convention provides an impetus and unique platform for advancement of the International disability rights agenda in development from which to engage the wider global development community. Work within this global community is framed by the millennium development goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed development goals.
The objective of this year's theme is inclusion of persons with disabilities in all development activities is essential to realising the MDGs and other development goals. This year the day serves as a reminder to governments, global leaders, policy-makers, opinion leaders, decision-makers and other stakeholders to keep up their efforts on behalf of disability inclusive of development.
The theme further stress upon to ensure that disability and the concerns of people with disabilities are included in the commitments to end global poverty made by the international community. It is the responsibility of society to help person with disabilities in making them fruitful part of the maintaining society. It has been observed that the society has to pay high price of excluding people with disabilities from the world of work and cost to society.
In the context of the macro-economic losses related to exclusion of people with disabilities from workplaces, the economic losses related to disability are large and measurable, ranging between 3 and 7 percent of GDP. So the political, economic and social actors are required to play their due role for inclusion in health, education, employment, skills training and other community services.
In Pakistan, many steps have been taken by the government for the inclusion of the persons with disabilities in human society. In this regard, National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (2002) and National Plan of Action for Persons with Disabilities (2006) have been approved by the government and many projects have been implemented in Pakistan under the policy by the Directorate General of Special Education, M/o Social Welfare & Special Education with funding support on behalf of the Planning Commission & Finance Division. The National Education Policy also stress initiatives for inclusive education. Inspite of all, the serious and concerted efforts for the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities are still need of the time.
Many commitments and promises have been made by the International community under the inclusive MDGs to promote the inclusion of persons with disability in all aspects of development process, however the gap between policy and practice continues. While the MDGs cannot be fully achieved without the inclusion of persons with disabilities, the current track toward the achievement of the MDGs may further increase their marginalization. Furthermore, the persistent and cumulative impact of the multiple global crises threatens the progress made towards the achievement of the MDGs that has a disproportionate and negative impact on persons with disabilities.
Persons with disabilities represent key target groups in all the MDGs, yet disability and the concerns of persons with disabilities still remains to be included in MDG processes and mechanisms. Their lack of representation could negatively impact on progress in the achievement of the MDGs.
Although, the governments, global leaders, policy-makers and other stakeholders acknowledge the need for disability-inclusive development, they must be supported in their efforts and be reminded to keep their promises. The International Day of Persons with Disabilities - 3, December 2010 - can further ensure the full and effective participation of persons with disability in all aspects of societal life and development. The 3rd December observance of the day provides opportunities for participation by all stakeholders - governments, UN system organisations, civil society and organisations of persons with disabilities - to focus on issues related to the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the MDGs.
(The writer is the Deputy Chief of Planning and Development Division, GOP.)
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