Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The annual observance of the Day was proclaimed in 1992, by a United Nations General Assembly resolution.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

The theme for this year is Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.  Today, the United Nations will launch the first-ever flagship report on disability and development “UN Flagship Report on Disability and Development  2018 – Realizing the SDGs by, for and with persons with disabilities”.

The Report provides an evidence base for disability-inclusive policy-making, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of an inclusive, accessible and sustainable global development agenda.

On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Vice President M Venkiah Naidu will confer the National Awards today on Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, States and Districts for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.