Crown Princess on International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked each year on 3 December, as a reminder that aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. HRH Crown Princess Katherine calls upon everyone to provide support and assistance to people with disabilities and make their daily lives easier and better.

 

The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on 3 December was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution. United Nations set the theme for marking this year’s Day to be: “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world“.

 

As stated by the UN: ”Most often, in moments of crises, people in vulnerable situations such as persons with disabilities are the most excluded and left behind. In line with the central premise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to “leave no one behind”, it is crucial for governments, public and private sectors to collaboratively find innovative solutions for and with persons with disabilities to make the world a more accessible and equitable place.”

 

HRH Crown Princess Katherine is emphasizing the importance of this Day, and on this occasion, she said: “Each person in the world deserves to be treated equally. The public needs to be reminded about the difficulties that people with disabilities have in their everyday life. Only by raising awareness and taking positive actions, and by being united to support them, we can provide a brighter future and a better world for children and persons with disabilities. They must be equal members of society, and I am sure you all share this opinion.

 

Every day, and not just today, we should live and work being aware that each of us, regardless of whether we or our family members face a disability, has certain qualities that can contribute to the overall progress of our society. People with disabilities, all over the world, face physical, social, and economic barriers. It is hard for them to understand people that exclude them from full participation in society as its equal members. In that way, people with disabilities are additionally endangered. Therefore, the whole community and all citizens should make extra effort and show greater understanding for people with disabilities and for the problems they face every day. By mutual acceptance and respect for diversity, together we turn the world into a better place for all of us to live.”

 

The HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation in Belgrade, together with the Lifeline Humanitarian Organizations in Chicago, New York, Toronto, London, and Athens, which are all under the patronage of Crown Princess Katherine, have been helping people with disabilities with donations numerous times for over 21 years, since the return of the Royal family to Serbia, but the support was provided even before. So far, more than 750 wheelchairs have been donated to specialized health institutions throughout Serbia. The most current donation was only 2 months ago, on 25 September 2022, thanks to the generosity Wheelchair Foundation and USA Rotary Club members. Numerous other donations to help persons with disabilities were also made during all these previous years.