A/RES/44/70
78th
plenary meeting
8
December 1989
Implementation of the World Programme
of Action concerning Disabled
Persons and the United Nations Decade
of Disabled Persons
The
General Assembly,
Recalling
all its relevant resolutions, including resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by
which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons,and
resolution 37/53 of 3 December 1982, in which it, inter alia, proclaimed the
period 1983-1992 the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons,
Recalling
also its resolution 43/98 of 8 December 1988, and reaffirming all of the
relevant provisions contained therein, in particular, the list of priorities
for global activities and programmes during the second half of the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons set forth in the annex to the resolution,
Taking
note of Economic and Social Council resolution 1989/52 of 24 May 1989, in which
the Council, inter alia, urged Member States, bodies and organizations of the
United Nations system and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations
to provide all possible support to the
awareness
and fund-raising campaigns to give added momentum to the Decade,
Noting
the important work currently being undertaken by the Sub-Commission on
Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on human rights and
disability, which could serve as a useful basis for the continued efforts to
ensure for disabled persons the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental
freedoms,
Taking
into account 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 Decade, and recognizing that
much more should be done at all levels to improve the living conditions of
persons with disabilities,
Mindful
that Member States bear the ultimate responsibility for the implementation of
the World Programme of Action and that national disability committees or
similar co-ordinating bodies play a crucial role in this regard,
Recognizing
the pivotal role of the United Nations in promoting the exchange of
information, experience and expertise and closer regional and interregional
co-operation towards more effective strategies and policies to advance the
status and welfare of persons with disabilities,
Stressing
that the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the
Secretariat is the focal point within the United Nations for the implementation
and monitoring of the World Programme of Action,
Noting
with satisfaction the strengthening of the Disabled Persons Unit of the Centre
through the generous financial support of some Governments,
Concerned
that the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons
continues to suffer from a lack of sufficient contributions and that, unless
this declining trend is reversed and the resource capacities of the Fund are
strengthened, many priority requests may not be met and the implementation of
the World Programme of Action will be seriously affected,
Mindful
that, since developing countries are experiencing difficulties in mobilizing
resources, international co-operation should be encouraged to assist in
national efforts to implement the World Programme of Action and the objectives
of the Decade,
Noting
that the International Meeting on Human Resources in the Field of Disability
was held at Tallinn, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, from 14 to 22 August
1989 and that it adopted a nine-point strategy to promote the participation,
training and employment of disabled persons, especially in developing
countries,
Having
considered the report of the Secretary-General,
1. Reaffirms the validity of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;
2. Reiterates that for the second half of the
United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, special emphasis should be placed on
the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons;
3. Urges Member States, intergovernmental
organizations and non-governmental organizations concerned to translate into
action at all levels, as appropriate, the priorities for global activities and
programmes during the second half of the Decade, such as those set forth in the
annex to General Assembly resolution 43/98;
4. Renews its invitation to all States to give
high priority to projects concerning the prevention of disabilities,
rehabilitation and the equalization of opportunities for disabled persons
within the framework of bilateral assistance, as well as financial support to
strengthen organizations of disabled persons;
5. Invites Governments to participate actively
in the international co-operation with a view to improving the living
conditions of disabled persons by encouraging professional experts, in
particular disabled persons, in various aspects of rehabilitation and the
equalization of opportunity, including the expertise of retired persons;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to assist
Member States in establishing and strengthening national committees on
disability issues and similar co-ordinating bodies and to promote and support
the establishment of strong national organizations of disabled persons;
7. Also requests the Secretary-General to
encourage all organs and bodies of the United Nations, including regional
commissions, international organizations and specialized agencies, to take into
account in their programmes and operational activities the specific needs of
disabled persons;
8. Invites the Secretary-General, in connection
with the feasibility study on the substantive, financial and administrative
implications of alternative ways to mark the end of the Decade in 1992, called
for by the General Assembly in its resolution 43/98, to request Member States,
in consultation with organizations of disabled persons, to submit their
comments to him by 28 February 1990 for inclusion in the background document to
be discussed at the meeting of experts to be held at Helsinki in May 1990;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to strengthen
the regional commissions to enable them to promote technical co-operation
activities and the sharing of national resources for personnel training, the
exchange of information, policy and programme development and research and the participation
of disabled persons;
10. Invites the Secretary-General and Member
States to involve disabled persons to a greater extent in United Nations
programmes and activities, including the provision of employment opportunities,
and to give particular attention to improving the situation of special groups
as outlined in the World Programme of Action, emphasizing the need for social
justice and the participation of these groups in each sector of the society;
11. Invites the Centre for Social Development and
Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to expand its close collaboration with
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations active in the field of
disability, in particular organizations of disabled persons, and to consult
with them on a regular and systematic basis on matters relating to the
implementation of the World Programme of Action, with a view to ensuring that
the results of the Decade become meaningful and lasting;
12. Notes with satisfaction the progress made by
the office of the Special Representative for the Promotion of the United
Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;
13.
Calls upon Member States, national
committees, the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations,
especially organizations of disabled persons, to assist in a global information
and fund-raising campaign to publicize the Decade through all appropriate
means;
14. Recognizes the important role of
non-governmental organizations, especially those representing persons with
disabilities in the effective implementation of the World Programme of Action,
in raising international awareness of the concerns of persons with disabilities
and in monitoring and evaluating progress achieved during the Decade;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that
contributions, in cash or in kind, related to the Decade are channelled into
the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons, while
giving donors the option of earmarking contributions for special purposes;
16. Reaffirms that the resources of the Voluntary
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 Decade, with priority given, as appropriate, to programmes and
projects of the least developed countries;
17. Invites Governments and non-governmental
organizations to continue their contributions to the Voluntary Fund, and calls
upon Governments and non-governmental organizations that have not yet done so
to consider contributing to the Voluntary Fund so as to enable it to respond
effectively to the growing demand for assistance;
18. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the
Tallinn Guidelines for Action on Human Resources Development in the Field of
Disability, the text of which is annexed to the present resolution, to the
attention of Member States, national co-ordinating mechanisms in the field of
disability, organizations of the United Nations system, other intergovernmental
bodies and non-governmental organizations concerned with disabilities;
19. Requests the Secretary-General to report to
the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session on the implementation of the
present resolution;
20. Decides to include in the provisional agenda
of its forty-fifth session the item entitled "Implementation of the World
Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons and the United Nations Decade
of Disabled Persons".
