A DAY OF EMPOWERMENT
Since 1992, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been annually observed on 3 December around the world. The theme for the 2019 IDPD is ‘Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership: taking action on the 2030 Development Agenda’.
The theme focuses on the empowerment and the leadership of persons with disabilities to take action on the inclusive 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which pledges to ‘leave no one behind’, recognizing disability as a cross-cutting issue, to be considered in the implementation of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).
This 2019 observance of the IDPD at the UN Headquarters will consist of an official opening, a panel discussion on new initiatives for disability inclusion, and a spotlight event on the theme of ‘Sport for all for peace and development’ to discuss sport as a powerful enabler of peace and sustainable development through the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Sport is a powerful tool to promote multilateralism and to bring people together. In the context of peace building and conflict prevention/resolution as well as postdisaster relief, sport can promote peace, tolerance and understanding.
Article 30 of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) established the right of persons with disabilities to participate on an equal basis with others in recreational, leisure and sporting activities.
In June 2019, a dedicated highlevel panel of 12th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities underlined for persons with disabilities, sport has the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behavior and is powerful tool to strengthen social ties and networks.
Though persons with disabilities continue to be excluded from recreational and sporting activities due to misconceptions, prejudice and lack of accessible facilities, Member States and civil society stakeholders are increasingly supporting policy interventions that are improving accessibility and availability of sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities. –