United Nations to Observe International Day of Disabled Persons

December 3, 2003

Event will bring together disability organizations from around the world for seminar and art exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, D.C. - On the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, the United Nations (UN) is hosting an event entitled "A Voice of Our Own." The program is sponsored by Rehabilitation International, a worldwide network of organizations that promotes initiatives to protect the rights and improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, and VSA arts , an international organization dedicated to creating a society where people with disabilities can participate in and benefit more fully from the arts. The event is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Disabled Peoples' International.

The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 and aims to increase awareness and understanding of disability issues and trends, and to mobilize support for practical action at all levels with the active participation of people with disabilities.

The seminar will bring together key leaders from the international disability community, the UN Member State Missions in New York, UN agencies, and several non-governmental organizations in an effort to highlight the current challenges and human rights issues facing people with disabilities. Guest speakers include UN Special Rapporteur for Disability Sheikha Hessa al-Thani and Gerard Quinn, an expert in disability law. The seminar will be held between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. in Conference Room 4 at UN Headquarters.

"This celebration will further the dialogue among organizations around the world, who share the common goal of improving the lives and opportunities for people with disabilities," said Tomas Lagerwall, secretary general of Rehabilitation International. "In the 10 years since the United Nations established the International Day of Disabled Persons, we have seen great progress in increasing awareness of the rights of people with disabilities. Our event will provide an opportunity to explore these important issues, while showcasing the work of these talented artists."

The official opening of the VSA arts' International Fellows exhibition will begin at 4 p.m., with a public display featured in the main lobby of UN Headquarters that will run through January 15, 2004. The exhibition includes the work of 12 a rtists with disabilities who were chosen as Fellows for the 2004 International VSA arts Festival, to be held June 9-12 in Washington, D.C. In addition, VSA arts will present a performance for seminar attendees by Raul Midon, a singer-songwriter-guitarist who is blind.

"It is an honor for our organization to be involved in an event that recognizes the importance of this day in the lives of over 600 million people with disabilities around the world," said Soula Antoniou, president of VSA arts . "Artistic expression is one way that we can be united in our differences and arrive at a greater understanding of one another. The arts are truly a gateway for people with disabilities to participate fully in society."

Contact:
Tanya Travers
Director of Public Awareness
(202) 628-2800
info@vsarts.org

###