Recalling its resolution 31/123 of 16 December 1976, by which it proclaimed the year 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons,

Recalling also its resolutions 32/133 of 16 December 1977, by which it established the Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons, 33/170 of 20 December 1978 and 34/154 of 17 December 1979,

Recalling further resolution 2, entitled "Improving the situation of disabled women of all ages", adopted on 30 July 1980 by the World Conference of the United Nations Decade for Women,/1

Recognizing that the International Year of Disabled Persons should promote the realization of the right of disabled persons to participate fully in the social life and development of their societies and to enjoy living conditions equal to those of other citizens, as well as an equal share in the improvements in living conditions resulting from social and economic development,

Bearing in mind the importance of co-ordination at the national, regional and international levels in the programming for the prevention of disability and the rehabilitation of disabled persons.

Convinced that the International Year of Disabled Persons should give the impulse for the establishment of a long-term world plan of action to follow up the activities of the Year.

Recognizing that the International Year of Disabled Persons should contribute to a greater awareness of the magnitude and complexity of the incidence of physical, sensorial and mental disabilities through, inter alia, effective public information activities,

Having considered the offer of the Government of Argentina/2 to act as host to the action-oriented international symposium of experts on technical assistance in the field of disability and technical co-operation among developing countries. to be convened during the International Year of Disabled Persons,

Concerned about the need to provide the secretariat of the International Year of Disabled Persons with the resources necessary for the implementation of the Plan of Action for the Year/3 and its follow-up,

1. Notes with satisfaction the steps already taken in the implementation of the Plan of Action for the International Year of Disabled Persons by Member States, organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system and non-governmental organizations, and encourages them to intensify their action and coordination during the Year;

2. Recommends that, in their efforts to promote the full participation of disabled persons in all aspects of life, Member States and organs, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system should pay particular attention to the participation of disabled persons themselves and of their organizations in the activities undertaken in connexion with the International Year of Disabled Persons and its follow-up;

3. Invites Member States which have not yet done so to establish national committees or similar bodies for the International Year of Disabled Persons;

4. Urges Member States to give higher priority to development assistance projects in developing countries in the fields of rehabilitation services, technical aids and training of appropriate personnel, including disabled persons themselves;

5. Welcomes the voluntary contributions made by Governments to the International Year of Disabled Persons and appeals for further voluntary contributions to the Year;

6. Decides to accept the offer of the Government of Argentina to act as host in 1981 to the action-oriented international symposium of experts on technical assistance in the field of disability and technical co-operation among developing countries, to be held in conformity with the Plan of Action for the International Year of Disabled Persons;

7. Requests the regional commissions to formulate appropriate programmes for implementing the recommendations contained in the Plan of Action for the International Year of Disabled Persons:

8. Requests the Secretary-General to examine the question of access to United Nations buildings, documents and information for persons with sensorial disabilities;

9. Further requests the Secretary-General to strengthen the information activities and to provide the secretariat of the International Year of Disabled Persons with all the resources and personnel necessary for carrying out its work;

10. Welcomes the progress already made in the drafting of a long-term world plan of action and approves the procedure and time-scale for its adoption proposed by the Advisory Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons at its second session:/4

11. Requests the Secretary-General to convene a session of the Advisory Committee in 1981;

12. Requests the Advisory Committee to examine the possibilities of continuing the activities of the International Institute for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons in Developing Countries in the light of the experience of the International Year of Disabled Persons;

13. Invites all heads of State or Government, the President of the thirty-fifth session of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General to issue special messages at the beginning of the International Year of Disabled Persons;

14. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-sixth session the item entitled "International Year of Disabled Persons" and, in view of its importance, recommends that this item should be considered by the General Assembly in plenary meeting, in observance of the Year;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session on the implementation of the present resolution.

92nd plenary meeting
11 December 1980