A/RES/60/131
services, employment and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities
of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, which reflect the strong
commitment to the equalization of opportunities, the rights of persons with
disabilities and the promotion and protection of the full enjoyment of all human
rights by persons with disabilities, including in the context of development,
Reaffirming the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and
summits and their respective follow-up reviews,
Noting that the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002, adopted by
the Second World Assembly on Ageing, 6 considers “older persons and disabilities” as
a specific issue for policy concern,
Welcoming the progress of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and
Integral International Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and
Dignity of Persons with Disabilities in preparing a draft text of the convention,
Acknowledging the complementary contributions of all existing international
frameworks on disability,
Aware of the fact that there are at least 600 million persons with disabilities
worldwide, of whom approximately 80 per cent live in developing countries,
Recognizing the important role of the World Programme of Action in the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals,
Recognizing also that the achievement of the purposes of the World
Programme of Action is congruent with economic and social development, extended
services provided to the whole population in the humanitarian area, the
redistribution of resources and income and an improvement in the living standards
of the population,
Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations, in
particular organizations of persons with disabilities, in the promotion and protection
of the full enjoyment of all human rights by persons with disabilities, and noting in
this regard their work in promoting the elaboration of an international convention on
the rights of disabled persons,
Noting with appreciation the important contributions of regional
intergovernmental organizations and the regional commissions of the United
Nations in promoting awareness and building capacities for the full participation
and equality of persons with disabilities, as well as the outcome of international
conferences relating to persons with disabilities,
Mindful of the need to adopt and implement effective policies and strategies in
all Member States, United Nations agencies, regional intergovernmental
organizations and regional commissions of the United Nations to promote the rights
and the full and effective participation of persons with disabilities at all levels,
Recognizing the importance of accessibility both of the physical environment
and of information and communication in enabling persons with disabilities to enjoy
fully their human rights and to play an active part in the development of society,
Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication
technologies, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and
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Report of the Second World Assembly on Ageing, Madrid, 8–12 April 2002 (United Nations publication,
Sales No. E.02.IV.4), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
2