Towards full integration of persons with disabilities in society: implementation of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and of the Long-Term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond, G.A. res. 49/153, 49 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 169, U.N. Doc. A/49/49 (1994).


Forty-ninth session
Agenda item 95

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly,

Recalling
its resolution 48/96 of 20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities,

Recalling also its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 1/

Recalling further all its relevant resolutions, including resolutions 37/53 of 3 December 1982, 46/96 of 16 December 1991, 47/88 of 16 December 1992 and 48/95 and 48/99 of 20 December 1993,

Welcoming the unreserved reaffirmation in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993, 2/ of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and the recognition in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development 3/ of a pressing need, among others, for the realization of the goals of full participation and equality for persons with disabilities,

Reaffirming the continuing validity and value of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, which provides a firm and innovative framework for disability-related issues,

Reiterating the responsibility of Governments for removing or facilitating the removal of barriers and obstacles to the full integration and participation of persons with disabilities into society, and supporting their efforts to develop national policies to reach specific objectives,

Recognizing the contribution of non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of persons with disabilities, in the global effort to bring about full participation and equality for persons with disabilities,

Aware of the major obstacles to the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, foremost among these being an inadequate allocation of resources,

Having due regard to the preconditions set out under section I of the Standard Rules for equal participation, including national action to raise awareness in society about persons with disabilities, their rights, their needs, their potential and the need to realize these, and their contributions, to provide effective medical care, including mental health care, to ensure rehabilitative services, to establish and maintain support services, including devices to assist persons with disabilities and to help them to increase their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights,

I

Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

1. Urges all Governments to implement, with the cooperation and assistance of organizations, the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution 48/96;

2. Invites Member States, in cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities or their representatives, to develop disability programmes, both on a national and local level, for the implementation of the Standard Rules and to include disability components in all planning, policy and development programmes;

3. Also invites Member States, in developing disability programmes, to set time limits for the accomplishment of specific goals or targets, where appropriate;

4. Encourages Governments to take legal and administrative measures, as appropriate, to implement fully the Standard Rules;

5. Encourages the consideration during major forthcoming events, including the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, of disability issues relevant to the subject-matter of those events;

6. Welcomes the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Disability to monitor the implementation of the Standard Rules and to submit reports to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth sessions;

7. Welcomes also the establishment of a panel of experts as referred to in section IV, paragraph 3, of the Standard Rules;

8. Encourages the Secretary-General and the United Nations agencies concerned to finalize, in consultation with Member States, the development of a global disability indicator, and also encourages the Special Rapporteur to make use of it, where appropriate, in his future work;

9. Notes with appreciation that a number of Member States have made, or have indicated their intention to make, contributions to support the work of the Special Rapporteur;

10. Invites Governments and the private sector to provide meaningful assistance to the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, with a view to providing additional support to the implementation of the Standard Rules, within the context of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons;

11. Requests the Secretary-General to support the effective monitoring by the Special Rapporteur of the Standard Rules, and invites voluntary contributions to fund the Special Rapporteur's work in this regard;

12. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on the implementation of the present resolution;

II

Long-term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons; 4/

2. Calls upon Governments, when implementing the World Programme of Action, to take into account the elements suggested in the Long-term Strategy to Implement the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons to the Year 2000 and Beyond, as set out in the annex to the above-mentioned report of the Secretary-General;

3. Notes with interest the various activities and contributions made by United Nations programmes and agencies in the disability field;

4. Requests the regional commissions and other regional organizations to facilitate the adaptation and transfer of global approaches, standards and disability-related technology to the specific needs of the region;

5. Urges international organizations to support regional and national plans;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure appropriate support for the effective functioning of the Long-term Strategy;

7. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session on the implementation of the Long-term Strategy.

94th plenary meeting
23 December 1994


1/ A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation 1 (IV).

2/ A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III.

3/ A/CONF.171/13, chap. I, resolution 1, annex.

4/ A/49/435. .


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