'Nothing about us without us': recognizing the rights of people with disabilities.

Some 10 per cent of the global population is disabled as a result of mental, physical or sensory impairment, with approximately 80 per cent living in developing countries. The global disabled population is increasing, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Population growth, medical advances that prolong life, war injuries, landmines, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, substance abuse, accidents and environmental damage all contribute to this increase. It has become increasingly clear that persons with disabilities should be viewed as people who enjoy the full spectrum of political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights. Physical or social barriers limit their lives, often denying them access to essential services. This affects not only the disabled and their families but also the economic and social development of entire societies, where a significant reservoir of human potential goes untapped.

Considering that disabilities are frequently caused by human activities or a lack of care, assistance from the entire international community is needed to put an end to this "silent emergency". Recognition has been slow, but it is steadily taking place in all parts of the world. The growth of the international disability movement, with its motto "Nothing About Us Without Us", encapsulates this fundamental shift in perspective towards a principle of participation and the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. Commemorating the 2004 International Day of Disabled Persons, observed every year on 3 December, Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed that "no society can claim to be based on justice and equality without persons with disabilities taking decisions as full-fledged members".

There is no universally agreed definition of disability. It is now considered a socially created problem and not an attribute of an individual. The social perspective is reflected in the WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, which defines disability as a universal human experience and not the concern of a minority; every human being can suffer from a health loss and thus experience some disability. The old "medical model" of disability has been replaced by a human rights model, in recognition of the fact that it is society that is "disabling" people with disabilities by making it difficult for them to exercise their human rights. The changing nature of disability and...