International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), 3 December 2021

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UN Expo Dubai 2020

Today, the world population is over 7 billion people and more than one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability; 80 per cent live in developing countries.

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

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

Secretary- General’s Message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Secretary- General’s Message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities

IDPD 2020

Main Commemorative Events at United Nations

  • Event on “Shaping an Inclusive Future for All: Leading with Determination”, 10:30am – 13:30am, United Nations at World Expo 2020 Dubai. The event will explore the opportunities and challenges to shape an inclusive future for persons with disabilities; showcase how the international community’s embrace of persons with disabilities will speed efforts to meet specific Sustainable Development Goals; and explore key issues to improve the lives of people with disabilities through accessibility, education, decent work, innovation/technology, and sport. 
  • Virtual Event on “Reducing Inequalities Through Technologies: A Perspective on Disability Inclusive Development”, 8:00 to 9:30 am (NY time), co-organized by United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The event aims at increasing awareness of the importance of supporting innovation ecosystems to spur the development of new and improved assistive technologies; promote understanding of the workings of the assistive technologies industry; and share insights on the landscape and global trends in this cluster of technologies as a complement to universal design The event will also highlight select initiatives by members of the UN family to support informed discussions relating to the realization of the objectives of the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This event is held as part of the WSIS TalkX and is closely linked to the WSIS Action Lines – where accessibility is a cross-cutting topic – and the Sustainable Development Goals.