UN International Day of Disabled Persons in Facts and Details

December 3 marks the International Day of Disabled Persons and intends to increase social tolerance toward disabled persons. Nearly 80 percent of all disabled persons live in developing countries, where they often face extreme hardship as a result of their disabilities.

MOSCOW, December 3 (Sputnik) — According to a decision by the United Nations General Assembly on October 14, 1992, December 3 is marked as The International Day of Disabled Persons as intended to awaken social tolerance toward disabled persons and to increase their normalized integration into society.

In 1971 the UN General Assembly proclaimed a "Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons."

In 1975 the UN General Assembly proclaimed a "Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons", affirming the rights of disabled persons to equal treatment and opportunity.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 1981 as the "International Year of Disabled Persons."

In 1982 the UN General Assembly formulated the World Program of Action Concerning Disabled Persons.

1983-1992 saw the UN General Assembly proclaiming an International Decade of Disabled Persons, and witnessed the adoption of a Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities.

On October 14, 1992, the United Nations General Assembly established an International Day of Disabled Persons.

On December 13, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly drafted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international human rights treaty to protect the rights and dignities of persons with disabilities.

May 3, 2008, saw the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The principles of the Convention are: respect of dignity and independence, non-discrimination, complete and effective integration of disabled persons into society, respect and acceptance of disabled persons' individuality, equality of opportunities, gender equality, resource availability equality and a respect for developing ability and individuality in disabled children. Persons are considered disabled if they are subject to long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which could hinder full, effective and equal participation in society.

In 2011 Russia introduced the 5-year "Available Environment" program, directed towards government health reform focusing on the integration of disabled persons into society by 2016.

In September 2012 Russia joined the UN in ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

On November 21, 2014, the Russian State Duma created 25 laws regarding the political and electoral rights of disabled persons, as well as healthcare, culture, transport and judicial system reforms. The laws are to come into effect in 2016.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 billion people, or 15 percent of world's population, experience a form of disability. Up to 190 million people above the age of 15 experience significant functional disabilities. Disabled people are more likely to be unemployed and, when employed, earn less than those without disabilities in similar forms of employment. According to the World Health Survey, employment rates of men and women without disabilities (65 percent and 30 percent respectively) are significantly higher than those of people with disabilities (35 percent and 20 percent respectively).

According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, there are currently 12.8 million disabled persons in Russia, of which 2.2 million are in the first disability category, 6.6 million are in the second category and 4 million are in the third. There are 570,000 disabled children. Out of the total number of persons with disabilities, two thirds are pensioners. Out of 2.5 million persons eligible to work, 800,000 are employed.