Globally, an estimated one billion people suffer some kind of disability and a substantial number of them live in the WHO South-East Asia Region. The disability prevalence rate in our Region is the second highest for moderate disability and third highest for severe disability. People with disabilities continue to live with great physical, social, economic and attitudinal barriers in their daily lives.
The theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities this year is “Inclusion matters: Access and empowerment for people of all abilities”. We need to come together to promote empowerment and create real opportunities for people with disabilities. Empowerment involves investing in people – in jobs, health, nutrition, education, and social protection. When people are empowered, they are better prepared to take advantage of opportunities and become agents of change, ready to embrace their civic responsibilities.
It is important to note that disability is part of the human condition, and that all of us either are or will become disabled to one degree or another during the course of our lives. We therefore need to change our focus to ability, not disability. Persons with disabilities should be empowered to fulfil their role in society and participate on an equal basis with others.
Not all disabilities are visible. Persons with mental and psychosocial disabilities, intellectual disabilities, as well as hearing impairments represent a significant proportion of the world’s population, but may not be recognized as disabled. Millions of people worldwide have mental health conditions and an estimated one in four persons globally will experience a mental health condition in their lifetime. The World Disability Day is an opportunity to advocate for all persons with disabilities, including those whose disability may not be visible.
This day is also an opportunity to review how far we have come in recognizing persons with disabilities as another manifestation of diversity in our communities, and to stand in support of a society that embraces that diversity in all its forms.
To promote integration and equal rights of people with disabilities within and by the community, WHO organized the first Asia–Pacific Community-based Rehabilitation Congress in Thailand in 2009 as well as the first World CBR Congress in India in 2012. In 2013, a consultation on ‘WHO Global Disability Action Plan 2014–2021: Better health for all people with disabilities’ was organized. This plan is in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN High-level Meeting on Disability and Development. In October 2015, a regional meeting was held in Bhutan to focus on strengthening intersectoral mechanisms for disability prevention and rehabilitation. However, much remains to be done.
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we should acknowledge the achievements and contributions of persons with disabilities in our families, workplaces, schools and communities.
I urge all Member States and partners to reaffirm their commitment for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.