In Touch at the National Theatre - Credit Patrick Baldwin

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2017

ONLINE REGISTRATION

Global commitment towards sustainable and resilient societies through inclusive arts

UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France - 4 December 2017

Since 1992, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been celebrated annually on 3 December around the world. IDPD mobilizes support for critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities, promotes awareness-raising about disability issues and draws attention to the benefits of an inclusive and accessible society for all. UN agencies, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector are encouraged to support IDPD by collaborating with organizations for people with disabilities to arrange events and activities.

The theme for this year’s International Day is ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies for all’, with a focus on enabling conditions for the transformative changes envisaged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNESCO’s event will focus on the role of inclusive arts in creating sustainable and resilient societies, where persons with disabilities will be entirely integrated among the main actors. This event echoes the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), promotes the cultural rights of persons with disabilities to participate in cultural and artistic activities and recognizes their right to have the opportunity to develop and utilize their creative, artistic and intellectual potential. The artistic and cultural integration of persons with disabilities is interconnected with the improvements of other disability-related issues and gender equality.

The half-day event will include: