It is the first time since 1958 that an international convention adopted by International Labor Organization included provision for disabled persons under the heading of discrimination (of employment and occupation). Later on, the UN general Assembly made the first International Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons, by resolution no. 2865 (XXVI) of December 20, 1971, covering one category of disabilities. In addition, it also recognized their rights to development in all spheres of life as well as medical care and physical therapy. Four years later, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, by resolution no. 3447 (XXX) of December 9, 1975, that recognized (in para 3–12 of the Declaration) several rights including: Dignity; civil, political, and social rights; treatment; legal aid; and the right of organizations of disabled persons to be consulted in matters concerning them. This was followed by the Declaration on the Right of Deaf-Blind Persons in 1979. Then 1981 was declared as International Year of Disabled Persons. In 1982 the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons was announced. In the subsequent year, the UN Decade of Disabled Persons (1983–92) was made to create awareness among policymakers for promoting equality and participation of disabled persons. Within this period ILO Convention (No. 159) concerning Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons), 1983 and Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the improvement of Mental Health Care (
1991) were laid. Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1993–2002 was proclaimed by UN for concrete actions to be taken by the Governments in the region of the achievement of these goals. At a meeting of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific convened in Beijing in December 1992, a Proclamation on the full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region was adopted. And later the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities by UN General Assembly in December 1993 was adopted.
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