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International day of persons with disabilities

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is a UN day that is celebrated every year on 3 December.

The day is about promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities at every level of society and development, and to raise awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

The WHO also observes this day each year - "reinforcing the importance of securing the rights of people with disabilities, so they can participate fully, equally and effectively in society with others, and face no barriers in all aspects of their lives".

The annual observance of this day was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3 with an aim to increase awareness of the issues faced by persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

More than 1 billion people experience disability, and this figure is predicted to rise, due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of non communicable diseases.

Despite this, few countries have adequate mechanisms in place to respond fully to the health priorities and requirements of persons with disabilities.

This year, the theme for IDPD is “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”

There are many such international days and no doubt the intention is sincere.
Yet what good are they really doing if they leave behind severely disabled sections of the community?

For something like ME - clearly a long term disability that has suffered from discrimination for decades - these days hold little value.

The pandemic has highlighted many issues around disability – many of these have affected people with ME for a very long time and many of the changes have been called for to assist people with ME, yet few were given any attention prior to covid-19.

Arranging these international days may raise awareness but are of limited use if only lip service is paid to the fine words.



An illustration were the events in recent years in the UK where the United Nations criticised the UK government over its continued failings of the disabled community.

In 2017 The UN committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities examined the government’s progress in fulfilling its commitments to the UN convention on disabled people’s rights, to which the UK has been a signatory since 2007.

Its report concluded that the UK had not done enough to ensure the convention – which enshrines the rights of disabled people to live independently, to work and to enjoy social protection without discrimination – is reflected in UK law and policy.

The UN confirmed that UK government’s treaty violations were both grave AND systematic.


In 2019 The UK was criticised for violating its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support, by Professor Philip Alston - the UN Rapporteur on extreme poverty.

In his final report on the impact of austerity in the UK, the UN Rapporteur accused the Government since 2010 of being in a state of denial about the impact of its austerity and welfare reform policies.
The report highlighted the “shocking” rises in the use of food banks and the denial of benefits to profoundly disabled people, amongst other things.
In terms of disabled people, the report stated that of nearly half of those in poverty, 6.9 million people, were from families that included a disabled person.
Disabled people were more likely to be in poverty, and were more likely to be unemployed, in insecure employment, or economically inactive.
They were also some of the hardest hit from austerity measures.


In 2020 The UK Government was been accused by Care England of betraying thousands of people with learning disabilities and autism by abandoning them in hospitals or inappropriate assessment centres for months at a time.


And just a month ago it was reported that the UN is preparing to investigate the UK government again - "a UN committee is gathering information ahead of another investigation into the UK government. It’s over its adherence to the human rights of chronically ill and disabled people. The UN’s last report found 'grave' and 'systematic' violations of people’s rights, calling it a 'human catastrophe'. Now, deaf and disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) are asking for evidence to submit to the UN."

People with ME know the experience of government inaction to rectify injustices.

Perhaps this day should be a day of reflection that merely announcing the theme of "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world" means little unless the words are backed by real action

UN International day of persons with disabilities

WHO International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: UK implementation




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