December 1, 2021

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Permanent Council · Regular meeting
Organization of American States, Washington, D.C.

Ambassador Josué Fiallo, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic
As Chair of the Permanent Council

Full minutes of the meeting: CP/ACTA 2352/21

The meeting

Regular meeting · CP/ACTA 2352/21 · Dominican Chair · order of business

Aprobación del orden del día
Informe Final de la Misión de Observación Electoral de la OEA de las elecciones generales y regionales realizadas el 2 de marzo de 2020 en la República Cooperativa de Guyana
Conmemoración del Día Internacional contra la Corrupción
Propuestas de la Secretaría General de la OEA con relación a las instrucciones contenidas en la resolución CP/RES. 1187 (2350/21) “Adecuaciones de los Trabajos de los Órganos, Organismos y Entidades de la Organización de los Estados Americanos”
Conmemoración del Día Internacional de la Personas con Discapacidad
Despedida al Embajador Sidney S. Collie, Representante Permanente del Commonwealth de las Bahamas
Despedida al Embajador Anton E. Edmunds, Representante Permanente de Santa Lucía
Otros asuntos

The meeting in the minutes →

Translated from the Spanish original, which is the authoritative text.

The next item on the order of business is the commemoration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, in accordance with the request submitted in document CP/INF. 9180/21 by the Permanent Mission of El Salvador on behalf of the Group of Friends of Persons with Disabilities of the OAS, made up of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Since 1992, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been observed around the world on December 3 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and to increase awareness of their situation in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. According to the United Nations (UN), more than one billion people live with some form of disability; 80% of them live in developing countries and, worldwide, persons with disabilities experience disproportionate poverty.

COVID-19 has deepened the pre-existing inequalities faced by persons with disabilities, among them disparities in stigma and discrimination, access to health care services, the digital divide, social protection and the risk of violence and neglect, especially for those who live in long-term care facilities and institutions. Women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, migrants and refugees, older persons and other marginalized populations are even more exposed to these risks. That is why, around these ideas, we will hear expert voices so that together we may reflect on the true meaning of this commemoration.

My sincere thanks to the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, the United States, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela for their efforts and support on behalf of persons with disabilities in the region.