Why Is a Human Rights Perspective Important?
Six hundred million people—almost ten percent of the world’s population— are disabled. Eighty percent live in the developing world. They are among the poorest of the poor and too often live as social and economic outcasts.
People with disabilities are entitled to the same human rights as all people. But in reality, the situation of people with disabilities across all societies is an affront to the core principles guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Today, there are few laws that guarantee inclusion and full participation in society for people with disabilities. Of 190 UN Member States, less than 50 have anti-discrimination laws. In countries with laws that promote access and protect rights, much work remains to implement and enforce these provisions. In the developing world, people with disabilities have few advocacy resources or legal tools to effect a change in their status, much less secure their full participation in society.
People with disabilities constitute one of the most vulnerable population groups due to the lifelong and severe nature of disability-based discrimination, and the systemic nature of the obstacles people with disabilties face in integrating into their communities on an equal basis with others.
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