A/RES/58/132 and sustainable livelihoods, including the relevant activities of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, 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, 5 considers “older persons and disabilities” as a specific issue for policy concern, Noting also the preparatory work 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 establishing a working group with the aim of preparing and presenting a draft text that would be the basis for the negotiation of the draft convention, Recognizing the strong commitment of Governments to the equalization of opportunities and to 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, Acknowledging the important role of non-governmental organizations 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 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, Reiterating that technology, in particular information and communication technologies, provides new possibilities for improving accessibility and employment for persons with disabilities and for facilitating their full and effective participation and equality, and welcoming the initiatives of the United Nations and contributions from regional groups in promoting information and communication technologies as a means of achieving the universal goal of a society for all, Recognizing the importance of timely and reliable data on disability-sensitive topics, programme planning and evaluation and the need for the further development of practical statistical methodology for the collection and compilation of data on populations with disabilities, Recognizing also the challenge of better incorporating the disability perspective in development and technical cooperation activities, _______________ 5 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