"4. Requests the Secretary General to promote these activities paying special attention to the situation of disabled persons in the developing countries, in accordance with the recommendations of the Vienna Affirmative Plan 1/ adopted by the World Symposium of Experts on Technical Co-operation among Developing Countries and Technical Assistance in Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation, held in Vienna in October 1981;

"5. Requests the Secretary General to monitor and support the implementation of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons by enlisting extra-budgetary resources.

(With regard to Paragraph 5, the Commission on Social Development agrees that regular budgetary resources will also be used to carry out the World Program of Action.)

1/ IYDP/SYMP/L.2/Rev.1.

98TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION

APPENDIX 5

H. CON. RES. 39

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to implementing the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992).

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 27, 1983

Mr. WINN (for himself and Mr. COELHO) submitted the following concurrent resolution, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to implementing the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992).

Whereas a new era in recognition of human rights and universal respect for these rights has begun;

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has declared 1983 through 1992 as the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons;

Whereas the United States has made great strides during the last decade in improving the lives of thirty-five million American citizens with physical and mental disabilities;

Whereas there is still much to be done to open doors to the full participation and equality of disabled persons in society throughout the world;

Whereas handicapped individuals should be able to participate fully in the mainstream of society through education, employment and community living opportunities;

Whereas the United States recognizes the need for further progress in strengthening public understanding and awareness of the needs and aspirations of disabled persons;

Whereas there is hope that this spirit of carrying out the goals of the International and National Years in 1981 and 1982 will continue throughout this decade;

Whereas a framework for national action has been established by these previous initiatives and the improvement of programs for the disabled over the last decade; and

Whereas further progress should be made in the United States toward achieving the following long-term goals of and for disabled persons promoted during the International Year of Disabled Persons: (1) expanded educational opportunity; (2) improved access to housing, buildings, and transportation; (3) expanded employment opportunity; (4) expanded participation in recreational, social, and cultural activities; (5) expanded and strengthened rehabilitation programs and facilities; (6) purposeful application of biomedical research aimed at conquering major disabling conditions; (7) reduction in the incidence of disability by expanded accident and disease prevention; (8) expanded application of technology to minimize the effects of disability; and (9) expanded international exchange of information and experience to benefit all disabled persons: Now, therefore, be it

1

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 3 President should take all steps within his authority to imple4 ment, within the United States, the objectives of the United

1 Nations Decade for Disabled Persons (1983-1992), as pro

2 claimed by the United Nations General Assembly on Decem

3 ber 3, 1982.

4

SEC. 2. The Clerk of the House shall transmit a copy of

5 this resolution to the President.

APPENDIX 6

LETTER TO FULL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CLEMENT ZABLOCKI FROM HON. ALVIN PAUL DRISCHLER, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS, EXPRESSING THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE ON H. CON. RES. 39

APR 1 1983

Dear Mr. Chairman:

In your letter of February 17, 1983, you asked for the views of the Department of State on H. Con. Res. 39, which expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to implementing the objectives of the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992).

On December 3, 1982, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted resolution 37/53, "Implementation of the World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons", without a vote. Paragraph 11 of that Resolution proclaimed the period 1983-1992 as the "United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons" and encourages Member States to utilize this period as one of the means to implement the "World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons". Resolution 37/52, entitled "World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons," was also approved on December 3, 1982, without a vote, by the General Assembly.

The United States joined with all other nations in supporting both of these resolutions and this program.

We have no objections, from a foreign policy point of view, to H. Con. Res.39.

The Office of Management and Budget advises that from the standpoint of the Administration's program there is no objection to the submission of this report.