The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons 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 gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Ali Baquer
CAN’s
Yellow and Blue Ribbon
Yellow is colour of Disability.
Blue is the colour of Rights of people with disability.
Ribbon Campaign
Concerned Action Now (CAN) is committed to promoting the rights and dignity of 90 million people with disabilities in India. To achieve this objective CAN uses the mode of awareness through workshops, seminars, conferences and its annual ribbon campaign.
CAN organises its Ribbon Campaign to observe the International Day of the Disabled Persons. It was at the conclusion of the United Nations Decade of the Disabled Person (1983 – 1992), the General Assembly proclaimed the 3rd December as the International Day of the Disabled Person.
CAN seeks to sensitise and raise awareness about disability through the easily identifiable means of colour. Every year on 3rd December CAN organises a panel discussion with eminent personalities and an audience of concerned individuals, such as disabled persons, parents, school children, community members, people from CAN’s project sites, members of the diplomatic corps, lawyers, judges, members of Parliament, educationists and others. Some of our eminent guests on this occasion have been Ms. Shalini Dewan, Director, UNIC; HE Walter Marquez, Ambassador of Venezuela; Lady Catherine Young, wife of the former High Commissioner of UK and Mr Sarabjit Singh, Secretary to the Government of India. We were fortunate to have received messages from HE The President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Mr Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General at our earlier functions. We have also received support from the former Prime Minister of India, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee.
CAN produces and distributes thousands of yellow and blue ribbons and “dignity for the disabled” badges which are worn on this day. The ribbons are made by children and community members from the Kusumpur Pahari slum where CAN runs vocational training centres. Yellow is the colour of disability and blue is the colour of the rights of disabled people.
The United Nations chooses a theme for each year. The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1982.
Pinning the badge on the President of India, APJ Kalam.
Function in 2002.
Chief Commissioner PWDs, Manoj Kumar, 2005.
Ribbon Campaign Function 2003
Ribbon Campaign Function 2006
2007 theme is “Decent work for Persons with disabilities”
2006 :"E-Accessibility"
2005: "Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development"
2004: "Nothing about Us without Us"
2003: "A voice of our own"
2002: "Independent Living and Sustainable Livelihoods"
2001: "Full participation and equality: The call for new approaches to assess progress and evaluate outcome"
2000: "Making information technologies work for all"
1999: "Accessibility for all for the new Millenium
