A/RES/40/31
                                                       29 November 1985
                                                       96th plenary meeting

    Implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled
    Persons and United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons

     The General Assembly,

     Recalling its resolutions 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted
the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,  37/53 of
3 December 1982, by which, inter alia, it proclaimed the period 1983-1992 the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, 38/28 of 22 November 1983, in which
it recognized the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of
Disabled Persons as an important instrument for the implementation of the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the desirability of
the continuation of the Trust Fund throughout the Decade, and 39/26 of
23 November 1984, by which it adopted further specific measures for
implementation of the World Programme of Action,

     Taking note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1985/35 of
29 May 1985, in which, inter alia, the Secretary-General was requested, in
order to facilitate contributions by Governments, to include on an annual
basis the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled
Persons among the programmes for which funds are pledged at the United Nations
Pledging Conference for Development Activities,

     Noting with satisfaction the concrete measures already carried out by the
Governments of Member States, the bodies and organizations of the United
Nations system and non-governmental organizations to implement the objectives
of the World Programme of Action within the framework of the United Nations
Decade of Disabled Persons,

     Noting with appreciation the steps taken by the United Nations system and
by non-governmental organizations concerned to establish a monitoring
procedure and prepare a consolidated questionnaire to monitor the
implementation of the World Programme of Action,

     Noting with concern that, in spite of a number of contributions made by
Governments between 1981 and 1985 and constant appeals by the General Assembly
and other United Nations organs to contribute to the financing of activities
for the disabled, progress towards the improvement of the situation of the
disabled in the developing countries has been slow,

     Noting with serious concern the alarming situation of disabled persons in
developing countries and the critical economic situation in a number of
countries, in particular in Africa and Latin America and the least developed
countries,

     Mindful that, since developing countries are experiencing difficulties in
mobilizing resources, international co-operation should be encouraged to
assist national efforts in implementing the World Programme of Action and the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,

     Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation
of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,

     Expressing its appreciation to Member States and organizations, in
particular to the twenty-five States that have donated $1.6 million over the
past few years,

     Expressing its appreciation of the useful role played by the United
Nations Trust Fund for the International Year of Disabled Persons in
implementing the World Programme of Action,

     1.   Urges all Member States and other donors to consider further
generous contributions to the Trust Fund;

     2.   Expresses its appreciation to Member States that have established
national committees or similar bodies to co-ordinate activities in the field
of disability and encourages all Member States to do so;

     3.   Invites Member States to reinforce national committees as focal
points for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, to stimulate
activities at the national level, to mobilize public opinion on behalf of the
Decade, to participate in the implementation of disability projects with
regard to the International Year of Disabled Persons and to assist in
monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons;

     4.   Encourages Member States to translate the World Programme of Action
into national languages;

     5.   Invites Member States, in close collaboration with the national
committees and non-governmental organizations concerned, to submit their
replies to the questionnaire for the first round of monitoring and
implementing the World Programme of Action to the Secretary-General as soon as
possible for inclusion in his report on the evaluation of progress at
mid-Decade, to be submitted to the General Assembly at its forty-second
session;

     6.   Urges the Secretary-General to comply with paragraphs 157 and 158 of
the World Programme of Action;

     7.   Invites all States to give high priority to consideration of
projects concerning the prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation and the
equalization of the opportunities of disabled persons within the framework of
bilateral assistance;

     8.   Reiterates the need to give greater publicity to the United Nations
Decade of Disabled Persons and calls upon Member States, national committees
and non-governmental organizations to assist in publicizing the Decade by all
appropriate means;

     9.   Takes note of the measures taken by the bodies and organizations of
the United Nations system to promote equal employment opportunities for
disabled persons and urges them to continue their efforts in this field;

     10.  Endorses, in particular, the terms of reference proposed in the
report of the Secretary-General  for the United Nations Trust Fund for the
International Year of Disabled Persons, henceforth to be called the Voluntary
Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;

     11.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to administer donated
funds, using them for projects under the present structure of the Trust Fund,
and in addition to make new provisions in order to offer a selection of
projects to donor countries which might be willing to finance a particular
programme under the "Special Purpose Contributions";

     12.  Reaffirms that the resources of the Trust Fund should be used to
support catalytic and innovative activities in order to implement further the
objectives of the World Programme of Action within the framework of the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, with priority given, as appropriate, to
programmes and projects of the least developed countries;

     13.  Requests all bodies and organizations of the United Nations system
administering assistance projects to take into account the concerns of
disabled persons in their projects for the rehabilitation of the disabled and
their integration into society, as well as to include disabled persons in
their overall planning objectives;

     14.  Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at
its forty-first session on the implementation of the present resolution;

     15.  Further requests the Secretary-General to include in the report
requested in paragraph 14 above information on preparations for the meeting of
experts to evaluate progress at the mid-Decade, as provided for in
paragraph 16 of resolution 37/53 and paragraph 13 of resolution 39/26, as well
as information on the establishment of inter-organizational task forces, as
recommended by the Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled
Persons at its third and fourth sessions and by the General Assembly in
paragraph 17 of its resolution 36/77 in order to provide support services for
the exchange of technical information and transfer of technological know-how
and other activities in the fields of prevention, rehabilitation and
equalization of opportunities in developing countries;

     16.  Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-first
session the item entitled "Implementation of the World Programme of Action
concerning Disabled Persons and United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons".

                            [End of Resolution text]