Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

Among the major outcomes of the Decade of Disabled Persons was the adoption of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities by the General Assembly on 20 December 1993 (resolution 48/96 annex). Although not a legally binding instrument, the Standard Rules represent a strong moral and political commitment of Governments to take action to attain equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities. The rules serve as an instrument for policy-making and as a basis for technical and economic cooperation.

The Standard Rules consists of 22 rules summarizing the message of the World Programme of Action. The Rules incorporate the human rights perspective which had developed during the Decade. The 22 rules concerning persons of disabilities consist of four chapters - preconditions for equal participation, target areas for equal participation, implementation measures, and the monitoring mechanism - and cover all aspects of life of persons with disabilities.

The Standard Rules for the Equalization of Opportunities of Persons with Disabilities provides for the appointment of a Special Rapporteur to monitor the implementation of the Rules.

• Read the document: Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities in MS Word or PDF
• See also: Reports concerning the Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities and the Special Rapporteur
• Proposed supplement to the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

General Assembly

A/RES/48/96
Distr. GENERAL
4 March 1994

Forty-eighth session
Agenda item 109

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[on the report of the Third Committee (A/48/627)]

The General Assembly,

Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26 of 24 May 1990, in which the Council authorized the Commission for Social Development to consider, at its thirty-second session, the establishment of an ad hoc open-ended working group of government experts, funded by voluntary contributions, to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for disabled children, youth and adults, in close collaboration with the specialized agencies, other intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of disabled persons, and requested the Commission, should it establish such a working group, to finalize the text of those rules for consideration by the Council in 1993 and for submission to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session,

Also recalling that in its resolution 32/2 of 20 February 1991¹ the Commission for Social Development decided to establish an ad hoc open-ended working group of government experts in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/26,

Noting with appreciation the participation of many States, specialized agencies, intergovernmental bodies and non-governmental organizations, especially organizations of disabled persons, in the deliberations of the working group,

Also noting with appreciation the generous financial contributions of Member States to the working group,

Welcoming the fact that the working group was able to fulfil its mandate within three sessions of five working days each,

Acknowledging with appreciation the report of the ad hoc open-ended working group to elaborate standard rules on the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities,²

Taking note of the discussion in the Commission for Social Development at its thirty-third session³ on the draft standard rules contained in the report of the working group,

1. Adopts the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, set forth in the annex to the present resolution;
2. Requests Member States to apply the Rules in developing national disability programmes;
3. Urges Member States to meet the requests of the Special Rapporteur⁴ for information on the implementation of the Rules;
4. Requests the Secretary-General to promote the implementation of the Rules and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its fiftieth session;
5. Urges Member States to support, financially and otherwise, the implementation of the Rules.

85th plenary meeting
20 December 1993

ANNEX
Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities

INTRODUCTION

• Background and current needs
• Previous international action
• Towards standard rules
• Purpose and content of the Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
• Fundamental concepts in disability policy

PREAMBLE

1. PRECONDITIONS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
   • Rule 1. Awareness-raising
   • Rule 2. Medical care
   • Rule 3. Rehabilitation
   • Rule 4. Support services
2. TARGET AREAS FOR EQUAL PARTICIPATION
   • Rule 5. Accessibility
   • Rule 6. Education
   • Rule 7. Employment
   • Rule 8. Income maintenance and social security
   • Rule 9. Family life and personal integrity
   • Rule 10. Culture
   • Rule 11. Recreation and sports
   • Rule 12. Religion
3. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES
   • Rule 13. Information and research
   • Rule 14. Policy-making and planning
   • Rule 15. Legislation
   • Rule 16. Economic policies
   • Rule 17. Coordination of work
   • Rule 18. Organizations of persons with disabilities
   • Rule 19. Personnel training
   • Rule 20. National monitoring and evaluation of disability programmes in the implementation of the Rules
   • Rule 21. Technical and economic cooperation
   • Rule 22. International cooperation
4. MONITORING MECHANISM

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