A/RES/49/153 Page 2 Reaffirming the continuing validity and value of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, which provides a firm and innovative framework for disability-related issues, Reiterating the responsibility of Governments for removing or facilitating the removal of barriers and obstacles to the full integration and participation of persons with disabilities into society, and supporting their efforts to develop national policies to reach specific objectives, Recognizing the contribution of non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of persons with disabilities, in the global effort to bring about full participation and equality for persons with disabilities, Aware of the major obstacles to the implementation of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, foremost among these being an inadequate allocation of resources, Having due regard to the preconditions set out under section I of the Standard Rules for equal participation, including national action to raise awareness in society about persons with disabilities, their rights, their needs, their potential and the need to realize these, and their contributions, to provide effective medical care, including mental health care, to ensure rehabilitative services, to establish and maintain support services, including devices to assist persons with disabilities and to help them to increase their level of independence in their daily living and to exercise their rights, I Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities 1. Urges all Governments to implement, with the cooperation and assistance of organizations, the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, set out in the annex to General Assembly resolution 48/96; 2. Invites Member States, in cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities or their representatives, to develop disability programmes, both on a national and local level, for the implementation of the Standard Rules and to include disability components in all planning, policy and development programmes; 3. Also invites Member States, in developing disability programmes, to set time limits for the accomplishment of specific goals or targets, where appropriate; 4. Encourages Governments to take legal and administrative measures, as appropriate, to implement fully the Standard Rules; 5. Encourages the consideration during major forthcoming events, including the 1995 World Summit for Social Development and the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, of disability issues relevant to the subject-matter of those events; 6. Welcomes the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Disability to monitor the implementation of the Standard Rules and to submit reports to the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth sessions; 7. Welcomes also the establishment of a panel of experts as referred to in section IV, paragraph 3, of the Standard Rules; /...