The United Nations and Persons with Disabilities

Chronology (1945-2015)1

Year Event

1946 The Social Commission of

the UN established the
Temporary Social Welfare
Committee

1948 UDHR

1950 1. The Social

Commission agreed on
the need to establish
international standards
for the education. . .of
PWD, with particular
focus on blind persons
2. Agreement on the
Importation of
Educational, Scientific
Materials exempted the
Articles for the Blind
from custom duties

1951 Social Commission

focussed on the issues of
adaptation and rehabilitation
from an integrated
perspective

1952 Discussion on rehabilitation

programs of PWD

1953 Social Commission

focussed on the
independent and productive
role of PWD in the society

1 Source: www.un.org last visited on 25-02-2015.

 Year Event

1956 Establishment of the

International Social Service
Review to raise awareness
about PWD issues

1960s The Social Commission

began to develop monitoring
mechanisms

1969 The General Assembly

adopted the Declaration on
Social Progress and
Development

1970 Inter-agency Meeting to

increase funds

1971 The General Assembly

proclaimed the Declaration
on the Rights of Mentally
Retarded Persons

1972 Consideration of the

recommendation that
rehabilitation services
should be integrated with
basic medical,
educational . . .programs

1973 Strengthening of inter-

agency coordination. UN
should increase recruitment
of PWD
 Year Event

1975 1. Economic and Social

Council adopted the
resolution dealing with
disability prevention and
rehabilitation
2. General Assembly
adopted the Declaration
on the Rights of Disabled
Persons

1976 1. General Assembly

recommendation to
Members to take into
account the Declaration
2. 1981 as the
International Year for
Disabled Persons

1978 Establishment of the

Intergovernmental Advisory
Committee for International
Year

2006 Adoption of the Convention

on the Rights of PWD and
its Optional Protocol

May 03, 2008 Entry into force of the

Convention on the Rights of
PWD and its Optional
Protocol

June 27, 2013 Adoption of the the Treaty to

Facilitate Access to
Published Works for
Persons who are Blind,
Visually Impaired, or
Otherwise Print Disabled