United Nations
General Assembly
A/RES/56/168
Distr.: General
26 February 2002
Fifty-sixth session
Agenda item 119 (b)
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/56/583/Add.2)]
56/168. Comprehensive and integral international convention to
promote and protect the rights and dignity of persons with
disabilities
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations
and the obligations contained in the relevant human rights instruments,
Reaffirming also that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1 proclaims
that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that
everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set out therein, without distinction
of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national or social origin, property, birth or other status,
Recalling its resolution 37/52 of 3 December 1982, by which it adopted the
World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, 2 its resolution 48/96 of
20 December 1993, by which it adopted the Standard Rules on the Equalization of
Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and its resolution 54/121 of
17 December 1999,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 2000/10 of 27 July
2000 on further promotion of equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons
with disabilities, as well as other relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and the functional commissions of the Council,
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and
summits and their respective follow-up reviews, in particular as they pertain to the
promotion of the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities on an equal and
participatory basis,
Noting with satisfaction that the Standard Rules play an important role in
influencing the promotion, formulation and evaluation of policies, plans,
programmes and actions at the national, regional and international levels to further
the equalization of opportunities by, for and with persons with disabilities,
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1
2
01 48876
Resolution 217 A (III).
A/37/351/Add.1 and Corr.1, annex, sect. VIII, recommendation I (IV).