What is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD) 2022?
Saturday 3rd December 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of International Day of Person with Disabilities (IDPWD), with this year's theme focusing on "Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world".
So you might be asking "What is the day all about?" and "What does that rather lengthy theme actually mean?"... well lets dig in to both and learn a little more.
What is IDPWD?
Back in 1982, when Margret Thatcher was Prime Minister, Next had just opened it's first ever store and Liverpool won the League Cup Final, The General Assembly of the United Nations unanimously adopted the "World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons". This was the starting point for what would, a full decade later, see Dec 3rd proclaimed to be annually observed as International Day of Disabled Persons.
The Day is observed to highlight issues that affect disabled people and to champion well-being, dignity and fundamental rights in all spheres of society. It also aims to raise awareness of the benefits and importance of the integration of disabled people in different aspect of life.
According to the UN, around 15 percent of the world's population of over 7 billion people live with some form of disability. In the UK we know that figure is more like 1 in 5 of us are disabled or have a long-term health condition.
What does this year's theme actually mean?
IDPWD has carried an annual theme ever since 1998, which saw "Arts, Culture and Independent Living" as the focus. Other themes have included "Nothing about Us without Us" in 2004, "E-Accessibility" in 2006, and "Building Back Better" in 2020 which focused on a post COVID-19 world. Each helping to highlight challenges of the time and future forward solutions.
2022's theme... Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world. This is essentially the UN taking note that the world has had a tough few years with the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and other countries and a tipping point on climate change, all posing challenges of an unprecedented nature. Signalling it as a time to act and find joint solutions in building a more sustainable and resilient world for all and for the generations to come.
Most often, in moments of crises, people in vulnerable situations such as disabled people are the most excluded and left behind. This is something our friends at Activity Alliance recently highlighted in research relating to sport and physical activity in the UK post pandemic which we covered here. So in line with the central premise of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind”, they see it as crucial for governments, public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions that help to make the world a more accessible and equitable place.
The UN will explore this in more detail on December 5th, including:
1) Innovation for disability inclusive development in employment.
This will discuss the linkages between employment, knowledge and skills required to access employment in an innovative, rapidly changing technological landscape to all and how assistive technologies can increase accessibility to employment and be mainstreamed in the workplace.
2) Innovation for disability inclusive development in reducing inequality.
This will discuss innovations, practical tools and good practices to reduce inequalities in both public and private sectors, which are disability inclusive and interest in promoting diversity in the workplace.
3) Innovation for disability inclusive development: sport as an exemplar case.
A sector where all of these aspects coalesce; sport as a good practice example and a site of innovation, employment and equity.
Even though there is still a long way to go, we are doing our bit to make sport and being active easier to access for everyone. Watch this space for some big news coming in 2023.
In the meantime, take a look for inclusive sessions happening in your area