United Nations Documents

A/RES/39/26 United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, November 23, 1984, Meeting No. 71

Web Posted on: November 24, 1997

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The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, and 37/53 of 3 December 1982 by which, inter alia, it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons as a long-term plan of action,

Recalling its resolution 38/28 of 22 November 1983, in which it recognized the desirability of the continuation of the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled Persons throughout the Decade,

Noting Economic and Social Council resolution 1983/19 of 26 May 1983, in which the Secretary-General was requested to monitor and support the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons by enlisting extrabudgetary resources,

Noting with satisfaction Commission on Human Rights resolution 1984/31 of 12 March 1984 and the draft resolution of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, concerning violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms and disability, and the appointment of a special rapporteur to study this issue in collaboration with the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat,

Noting with great appreciation the generous voluntary contributions and pledges made by Governments and other donors to the Trust Fund, as well as other voluntary contributions to support activities concerning disabled persons,

Noting also with appreciation the results achieved so far through funding from the Trust Fund during the International Year of Disabled Persons and its follow-up activities, as well as through other voluntary contributions,

Desirous of ensuring effective implementation of the World Programme of Action, and aware that, if this is to be achieved, Member States, organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, non-governmental organizations and organizations of disabled persons must be encouraged to continue the activities already undertaken and to initiate new programmes and activities,

Stressing that the primary responsibility for the realization of the objectives of the World Programme of Action rests with individual countries and that international action should be directed towards assisting and supporting national efforts in this regard,

Noting the emergence of organizations of disabled persons in all parts of the world and their importance to the implementation of the World Programme of Action,

Convinced that high priority must continue to be assigned to the planning, management and financing of the activities and programmes relating to the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,

Convinced that the Decade will give a meaningful and forceful impetus to the implementation of the World Programme of Action and to a broader understanding of its importance,

Concerned that developing countries are experiencing increasing difficulties in mobilizing adequate resources for meeting pressing needs in the field of disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities for the millions of persons with disabilities, particularly in the face of pressing demands from other high-priority sectors concerned with basic needs,

Recalling that in paragraph 157 of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons it is stated that the Trust Fund should be used to meet requests for assistance from developing countries and organizations of disabled persons and to further the implementation of the World Programme of Action and, in paragraph 158, it is indicated that there is a need to increase the flow of resources to developing countries to implement the objectives of the World Programme of Action, and that, therefore, the Secretary-General should explore new ways and means of raising funds and take the necessary follow-up measures for mobilizing resources, and that voluntary contributions from Governments and from private sources should be encouraged,

Stressing the importance of an effective system for collection and dissemination of technical information on disability,

Stressing further the importance of public information and education activities in the field of prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,

1. Expresses its appreciation to all Member States which elaborated national policies and programmes for the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, and urges those which have not yet formulated such programmes to do so;
2. Notes with appreciation the activities relating to the implementation of the World Programme of Action undertaken by the United Nations system and by relevant non-governmental organizations;
3. Urges Member States to make every effort to attain the objectives of the World Programme of Action in co-operation with non-governmental organizations concerned and to involve disabled persons in planning and decision-making related to the implementation of the Programme;
4. Invites Member States as a matter of priority to reinforce or establish national committees or similar bodies for the Decade at the highest level with participation of organizations of disabled persons to plan, co-ordinate and encourage the execution of activities in support of the objectives of the Decade at the national and local levels;
5. Requests the Secretary-General to elaborate the guidelines for priority actions during the Decade based on his report to the present session and on the replies received from Member States and organizations including those of disabled persons;
6. Reiterates its request that the Secretary-General strengthen the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat through a reallocation of existing resources to enable the Centre to continue to serve as the focal point in the field of disability, particularly for purposes of paragraph 5 above;
7. Requests the Secretary-General and relevant organizations of the United Nations system to develop specific programmes to publicize the Decade and the goals of the World Programme of Action, and invites Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist in this undertaking;
8. Invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, as well as non-governmental organizations to make available resources in the form of funds and personnel for the purpose of planning, managing and financing the Decade at the national, regional and interregional levels;
9. Urges all organizations of the United Nations system to take into consideration the interests of disabled persons as well as the effective implementation of the World Programme of Action in the pursuance of their overall objectives in their respective areas of competence;
10. Decides that, pending completion of the elaboration and the adoption of the guidelines referred to in paragraph 5 above, the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled Persons should continue to support activities in accordance with paragraph 157 of the World Programme of Action and paragraph 4 of General Assembly resolution 38/28;
11. Calls upon Member States and other donors to continue to contribute generously to the Trust Fund;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the recruitment of more disabled persons within the United Nations system;
13. Again requests the Secretary-General to convene in 1987 a meeting of experts, consisting largely of disabled persons, to evaluate progress at the mid-point of the Decade and to prepare a report that would enable the Secretary-General to help the General Assembly at its forty-second session to evaluate the implementation of the World Programme of Action, as provided for in paragraph 3 of resolution 37/52;
14. Requests the Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the present resolution, including detailed information on the activities relating to the Trust Fund, to the General Assembly at its fortieth session and decides to include in the provisional agenda of that session an item entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons".

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