The 3rd of December has been declared as the “International Handicapped Day” by a decision of the United Nations (UN) in 1992. Then, the UN Human Rights Commission required the 3rd of December to be recognized by the member countries for “reintroducing the Handicapped to the Society and Providing Human Rights Fully and Equally” by it communiqué No. 29 dated March 5, 1993. As of this date, the 3rd of December has been declared as the “Handicapped Day”.
Being handicapped is defined as loss of physical, mental, emotional and social abilities being innate or caused by accident or a long lasting disease.
In addition to genetic disorders, problems which may occur in the course of birth or diseases and accidents suffered after birth are known as the main reasons of disability.
The problems suffered by handicapped persons are not only their own problems, but common problem of their families, society, environment, in short all humans.
Handicapped people may continue their life like normal persons through creation of social sensitivity fully.
The 3rd of December World Handicapped Day is celebrated with various events all over the world in order to attract attention of the society to the issue of handicapped and ensure them to be more sensitive.
It is known that 12.29 percent of population, namely 8.5 million people are handicapped in our country. This percentage is 11.10 percent in men and 13.45 percent in women. In the light of the data announced by the World Health Organization, it is said that approximately 500 million handicapped live throughout the world.
It must be the common duty of everybody from all sections of the society to differ handicapped individuals and pay due care to them.
We must act with the fact that they also live with everybody closely on the same street in the same locations in the same city and not remember and put handicapped persons on the agenda only 1 day of the year.
We must act by knowing that disability is not a situation occurring knowingly or voluntarily and may be suffered by everybody.
Do not forget that disability is not a fault and handicaps may be overcome…
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