December 3rd is International Day of Persons With Disabilities, dedicated to increasing public awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities and celebrating their achievements. It is an annual observance proclaimed in 1992 by the UN General Assembly that aims to focus on issues affecting persons with disabilities worldwide and to promote their rights, dignity and well-being.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), roughly 15% of the world’s population or over a billion people are affected by some form of disability. While progress has been made over the past years to build a disability-inclusive world, people with disabilities continue to face inequalities and mistreatments all around the world every single day. This is largely due to a lack of awareness, ignorance and prejudice in our society. It is also because some legislation fails to protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Today is an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of those living with disabilities, to become more compassionate and make our intentions of a more equitable, diverse and inclusive society for those with disabilities.