International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022

3rd December 2022

Pakistan Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences – Islamabad

• International Day of Persons with disabilities is celebrated all over the world on 3rd December every year.
• The theme for this day for year 2022 is “Not all disabilities are visible”.
• This day is a reminder for inclusion of persons with disabilities in education, decent work, health services, livelihood, and social interactions, to be able to live their lives with dignity and independence.
WHO and World Bank data shows that there are 1.3 billion people in the world with disabilities and 80% live in developing countries. According to the World Report on Disabilities, 13% population in Pakistan is living with some disability, which includes physical, mental, developmental, blindness and sever vision impairment, deafness and sever hearing impairment, speech, cognitive, dementia, autism, and many invisible disabilities. The percentage of disability all over the world will increase to alarming levels in the future. The status of disability is worsened by conflicts, natural disasters, displacements, calamities, economic crises etc. the world population hit 8 billion and with increasing life expectancy, aging population has also increased. Needs for an aging population specially with disabilities also needs attention. Rights of persons with disabilities
Pakistan Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences (PIRS), an allied health human resource development institute, organized an event to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities. This event was actively attended by Ms. Zill-e-Huma, MNA and focal person for disability, Prof Muhammad Daud Khan chairman, NGOs working for the rights of persons with disabilities, aging population with special needs, social sector, academia, communication, and media. Speakers highlighted the need for coordinated and collaborated efforts from stakeholders. The event ended with recommendation and call for action to strengthen national and international cooperation to empower persons with disabilities.