No people with disabilities, but people with different abilities
BEIJING, Sept. 15 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- As the awe-inspiring 2008 Beijing Paralympics is coming to an end, the United Nations in China and the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) jointly hosted today a high-level celebration to recognize the exemplary deeds of outstanding persons with disabilities and people who devoted themselves in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
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Over 200 representatives from the government agencies, United Nations system, Paralympic athletes, celebrity volunteers, as well as the disabled groups and their families all gathered to witness the joyful moment and share the remarkable achievements by the persons with disabilities both during the Games and in day-to-day life.
"People with disabilities exemplify the best of the human spirit. There are no people with disabilities, but people with different abilities," said Khalid Malik, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China. "Their rights shall by no means be ignored, disrespected or not fulfilled.
"Paralympic Games can raise awareness and stimulate action on promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. One of the key legacies of the Games shall be that humanitarian and Paralympic spirit will extend to everyone, and a caring society will be fostered," said Tang Xiaoquan, President of the CDPF who addressed the event on behalf of Deng Pufang, Vice-Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Chairman of the CDPF.
Five individuals, distinctive for their services for the persons with disabilities or their exemplary deeds of reaching dreams, recounted their experience with Pu Cunxin, renowned Chinese actor, a Paralympic volunteer and a staunch advocate for public welfare. These outstanding individuals, three of them with disabilities themselves, received a certificate from the United Nations, recognizing the powerful role they have played in the services of persons with disabilities and their passion, time and talents devoted to foster the well-being of the vulnerable groups of the society.
They were: Tang Xiaoquan, President of the CDPF; Tai Lihua, director and leading dancer of the China Disabled Persons’ Performing Art Troupe; Wang Fang, founder of the Angels’ Home, devoting to caring the children with cerebral palsy; Yu Haibo, founder of a volunteering association for the person with disabilities; and Wu Runling committed to NGO’s participation in promoting rights of persons with disabilities.
"It’s not impossible, but only harder, for us to reach our dreams," said Tai Lihua. The 31-year-old artist has performed in over 30 countries and is the only Chinese dancer who has performed at both Carnegie Hall in New York and La Scala in Milan.
Over the past few weeks, more than 4,000 athletes from 148 countries and regions competed in the Paralympic Games, exemplifying the spirit of transcendence. During the event, two Paralympic gold medalists shared their experiences of how they broke barriers to attain their dreams. They were: Zhou Yangjing from China, gold medalist of the TA mixed double sculls, and Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei from Kenya, gold medalist in the athletics men’s 1500m and 5,000m T46.
"While we celebrate the remarkable athletes who came to show the world how much they can achieve at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games, we should also take this time to hail the 192 UN members who approved two years ago the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the only international convention so far to call for the protection of the rights of the people with disabilities," said Malik.
China was among the first nations to sign the convention, which came into force on 3 May 2008. "More efforts are needed from the Chinese government and people, the international community as well, to help the persons with disabilities benefit equally from China’s social and economic development," Tang added.
Background
People with disabilities are the world’s largest minority. Globally, there are more than 650 million such individuals. China has 83 million people living with disabilities, of whom 20,000 are newly disabled as a result of the Wenchuan earthquake in May.
China was among the first nations to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which came into force on 3 May 2008. 36 countries have so far ratified it. On 30 August, a Memorial Wall dedicated to the UN Convention, which outlaws all forms of discrimination in the workplace on the basis of disability, was unveiled in the Beijing Paralympics Village.
A number of UN agencies have programmes to assist people with disabilities in China. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is helping China to develop equal opportunity legislation for people with disabilities in the workplace. It has supported training for employment opportunities. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) works closely with the China Disabled Persons' Federation to promote rights protection for people with disabilities. Among other activities, UNICEF, UN Children’s Fund, helped revise the Chinese law on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in July with a special provision on disabled children.
News photos of the event can be downloaded at the UNDP China website: http://www.undp.org.cn , under "Recent Press Release".
