.

There are persons with disabilities in all parts of the world and at all

levels in every society. The number of persons with disabilities in the world

is large and is growing.

. Both the causes and the consequences of disability vary throughout the

world. Those variations are the result of different socio-economic

circumstances and of the different provisions that States make for the

well-being of their citizens.

. Present disability policy is the result of developments over the past

200 years. In many ways it reflects the general living conditions and social

and economic policies of different times. In the disability field, however,

there are also many specific circumstances that have influenced the living

conditions of persons with disabilities. Ignorance, neglect, superstition and

fear are social factors that throughout the history of disability have

isolated persons with disabilities and delayed their development.

. Over the years disability policy developed from elementary care at

institutions to education for children with disabilities and rehabilitation

for persons who became disabled during adult life. Through education and

rehabilitation, persons with disabilities became more active and a driving

force in the further development of disability policy. Organizations of

persons with disabilities, their families and advocates were formed, which

advocated better conditions for persons with disabilities. After the Second

World War the concepts of integration and normalization were introduced, which

reflected a growing awareness of the capabilities of persons with

disabilities.

. Towards the end of the 1960s organizations of persons with disabilities

in some countries started to formulate a new concept of disability. That new

concept indicated the close connection between the limitation experienced by

individuals with disabilities, the design and structure of their environments

and the attitude of the general population. At the same time the problems of
disability in developing countries were more and more highlighted. In some of

those countries the percentage of the population with disabilities was

estimated to be very high and, for the most part, persons with disabilities

were extremely poor.

Previous international action

. The rights of persons with disabilities have been the subject of much

attention in the United Nations and other international organizations over a

long period of time. The most important outcome of the International Year of

Disabled Persons, 1981, was the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled

Persons, 5/ adopted by the General Assembly by its resolution 37/52 of 3

December 1982. The Year and the World Programme of Action provided a strong

impetus for progress in the field. They both emphasized the right of persons

with disabilities to the same opportunities as other citizens and to an equal

share in the improvements in living conditions resulting from economic and

social development. There also, for the first time, handicap was defined as a

function of the relationship between persons with disabilities and their

environment.

. The Global Meeting of Experts to Review the Implementation of the World

Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons at the Mid-Point of the United

Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was held at Stockholm in 1987. It was

suggested at the Meeting that a guiding philosophy should be developed to

indicate the priorities for action in the years ahead. The basis of that

philosophy should be the recognition of the rights of persons with

disabilities.

. Consequently, the Meeting recommended that the General Assembly convene

a special conference to draft an international convention on the elimination

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recommendation 1

of all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities, to be

. A draft outline of the convention was prepared by Italy and presented to

the General Assembly at its forty-second session. Further presentations

concerning a draft convention were made by Sweden at the forty-fourth session

of the Assembly. However, on both occasions, no consensus could be reached on

the suitability of such a convention. In the opinion of many representatives,

existing human rights documents seemed to guarantee persons with disabilities

the same rights as other persons.

Towards standard rules

. Guided by the deliberations in the General Assembly, the Economic and

Social Council, at its first regular session of 1990, finally agreed to

concentrate on the elaboration of an international instrument of a different

kind. By its resolution 1990/26 of 24 May 1990, the Council authorized the

Commission for Social Development to consider, at its thirty-second session,

the establishment of an ad hoc open-ended working group of government experts,

funded by voluntary contributions, to elaborate standard rules on the

equalization of opportunities for disabled children, youth and adults, in

close collaboration with the specialized agencies, other intergovernmental

bodies and non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of

disabled persons. The Council also requested the Commission to finalize the

text of those rules for consideration in 1993 and for submission to the

General Assembly at its forty-eighth session.

. The subsequent discussions in the Third Committee of the General

Assembly at the forty-fifth session showed that there was wide support for the

new initiative to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of

opportunities for persons with disabilities.

. At the thirty-second session of the Commission for Social Development,

the initiative for standard rules received the support of a large number of

representatives and discussions led to the adoption of resolution 32/2 of 20

open-ended working group in accordance with Economic and Social Council

resolution 1990/26.

Purpose and content of the Standard Rules on the

Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with

Disabilities

. The Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with

Disabilities have been developed on the basis of the experience gained during

the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992). 6/ The

International Bill of Human Rights, comprising the Universal Declaration of

Human Rights, 7/ the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural

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Rights 8/ and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 8/ the

Convention on the Rights of the Child 9/ and the Convention on the Elimination

of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 10/ as well as the World

Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, constitute the political and

moral foundation for the Rules.

14. Although the Rules are not compulsory, they can become international

customary rules when they are applied by a great number of States with the

intention of respecting a rule in international law. They imply a strong

moral and political commitment on behalf of States to take action for the

equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. Important

principles for responsibility, action and cooperation are indicated. Areas of

decisive importance for the quality of life and for the achievement of full

participation and equality are pointed out. The Rules offer an instrument for

policy-making and action to persons with disabilities and their organizations.

They provide a basis for technical and economic cooperation among States, the

United Nations and other international organizations.

with disabilities, as members of their societies, may exercise the same rights

and obligations as others. In all societies of the world there are still

obstacles preventing persons with disabilities from exercising their rights

and freedoms and making it difficult for them to participate fully in the

activities of their societies. It is the responsibility of States to take

appropriate action to remove such obstacles. Persons with disabilities and

their organizations should play an active role as partners in this process.

The equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities is an

essential contribution in the general and worldwide effort to mobilize human

resources. Special attention may need to be directed towards groups such as

women, children, the elderly, the poor, migrant workers, persons with dual or

multiple disabilities, indigenous people and ethnic minorities. In addition,

there are a large number of refugees with disabilities who have special needs

requiring attention.

Fundamental concepts in disability policy

16. The concepts set out below appear throughout the Rules. They are

essentially built on the concepts in the World Programme of Action concerning

Disabled Persons. In some cases they reflect the development that has taken

place during the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons.

Disability and handicap

17. The term "disability" summarizes a great number of different functional

limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People

may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory impairment, medical

conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may

be permanent or transitory in nature.

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