World Down Syndrome Day at the UN – Resolution text and sponsor countries

United Nations A/C.3/66/L.27/Rev.1

General Assembly Distr.: Limited

1 November 2011

Original: English

11-57664 (E) 031111

*1157664*

Sixty-sixth session

Third Committee

Agenda item 69 (a)

Promotion and protection of human rights: implementation

of human rights instruments

Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia (Plurinational State of),

Brazil, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Georgia, Germany, Guatemala, Iraq,

Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Malta, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore,

Slovenia, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of

America and Uruguay: revised draft resolution

World Down Syndrome Day

The General Assembly,

Recalling the 2005 World Summit Outcome1 and the United Nations

Millennium Declaration,2 as well as the outcomes of the major United Nations

conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields,

Recalling also the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,3

according to which persons with disabilities should enjoy a full and decent life, in

conditions that ensure dignity, promote self-reliance and facilitate the person’s

active participation in the community and the full enjoyment of all human rights and

fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other persons, and by which States

parties undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures to raise

awareness throughout society regarding persons with disabilities,

Affirming that ensuring and promoting the full realization of all human rights

and fundamental freedoms for all persons with disabilities is critical to achieving

internationally agreed development goals,

Aware that Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement

that has always been a part of the human condition, exists in all regions across the

globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical

characteristics or health,

Recalling that adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes

and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth

and development of the individual,

Recognizing the inherent dignity, worth and valuable contributions of persons

with intellectual disabilities as promoters of the well-being and diversity of their

communities, and the importance of their individual autonomy and independence,

including the freedom to make their own choices,

1. Decides to designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be

observed every year beginning in 2012;

2. Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations

system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including

non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down

Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down

syndrome;

3. Encourages Member States to take measures to raise awareness

throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with Down

syndrome;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to bring the present resolution to the

attention of all Member States and United Nations organizations.

__________________

1 See resolution 60/1.

2 See resolution 55/2.

3 Resolution 61/106, annex I.

A/C.3/66/L.27/Rev.1

2 11-57664

Promotion and protection of human rights: implementation of human rights instruments [69 (a)]

Action on draft resolution A/C.3/66/L.27/Rev.1

The Committee was informed that the draft resolution contained no programme budget implications.

The representative of Brazil made a statement and announced that Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, the Philippines, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.

The representative of Iraq announced that his country is not a co-sponsor of the draft resolution.

Albania, Armenia, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Colombia, Eritrea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, San Marino, Serbia, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Timor-Leste and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.

78 State Parties Sponsors in alphabetic order (those that joined first are in bold)

1. Albania,
2. Argentina
3. Armenia,
4. Australia
5. Austria,
6. Bangladesh
7. Belarus
8. Bhutan,
9. Bolivia (Plurinational State of),
10. Bosnia and Herzegovina,
11. Brazil,
12. Bulgaria,
13. Burundi,
14. Canada,
15. Chile,
16. Colombia,
17. Costa Rica,
18. Cuba,
19. Cyprus,
20. Denmark,
21. Dominican Republic,
22. Ecuador,
23. Egypt,
24. Eritrea,
25. Finland,
26. France,
27. Georgia,
28. Germany,
29. Greece,
30. Guatemala,
31. Guyana,
32. Haiti,
33. Honduras,
34. Hungary,
35. Iceland,
36. India,
37. Indonesia,
38. Ireland,
39. Israel,
40. Italy,
41. Jamaica,
42. Jordan,
43. Latvia,
44. Lithuania,
45. Luxembourg,
46. Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of),
47. Malaysia,
48. Malta,
49. Mauritania,
50. Mexico,
51. Monaco,
52. Montenegro,
53. Morocco,
54. Nicaragua,
55. Panama,
56. Paraguay,
57. Peru,
58. Philippines,
59. Poland,
60. Portugal,
61. Qatar,
62. Republic of Korea,
63. Republic of Moldova,
64. Romania,
65. San Marino,
66. Serbia,
67. Singapore,
68. Slovenia,
69. Spain,
70. Syrian Arab Republic,
71. Thailand,
72. Timor-Leste,
73. Turkey,
74. Ukraine,
75. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
76. United States of America
77. Uruguay and
78. Venezuela (Bolivian Republic of)