Why in News?

• The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed every year on December 3 to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development.
  The 2018 theme for this day is “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”

Objective:

• It aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
• It also seeks to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

Highlights:

• It focuses on empowering persons with disabilities for an inclusive, equitable and sustainable development as part of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pledges to “leave no one behind”.
• The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was instituted by United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) after it had passed a resolution 47/3 in 1992.
• Since then, it is observed annually and originally was called as the International Day of Disabled Persons.
• UN estimates that around one billion people are living with disabilities across the world and they are facing barriers of inclusion in many key aspects of society.