Preamble
The
Arab countries:
* Stemming from
their belief in human values, and their authentic cultural and educational
heritage;
*
Arising from
their commitment to religious edict that have decreed respect for all human
life;
*
Reaffirming commitment
to the international covenants, treaties, declarations and agreements of the
United Nations and the recommendations of United Nations conferences of the
last decade of the 20th century;
*
Recalling also
the Convention of the Arab League, the Arab Convention of Social Justice,
the Arab Strategy for Social Work, the Arab Convention on the Rights of the
Child, the Arab Declaration on the Rights of the Family, and the Arab
Strategy for Development and Health;
*
Continuing
the
Arab efforts in the areas of legislation, development, support aimed at
safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities, including the right to
habilitation, rehabilitation and integration into society, and guaranteeing
their full participation in public life as an integral part of the fabric of
society and human development;
*
Recognizing
that people with disabilities have the capacities and capabilities to
contribute if they are presented with the appropriate training and
rehabilitation services and the equal opportunities, and the ability to
participate equally with all other members of society to achieve true and
comprehensive human development;
*
Recognizing
the abilities of our Arab homeland in facing the challenges and building a
cohesive social system in which people have equal rights regardless of race,
gender, origin or ability;
*
Mindful
that the issues of people with disabilities are a social concern to be dealt
with through the joint effort of governments, societies, civil society, the
private sector and people with disabilities themselves;
*
Considering
the
political, economic, social conditions prevailing in the Arab world and the
circumstances of wars, occupation, siege and natural disasters it is
subjected to which has led to an increase in the numbers of people with
disabilities;
*
Recognizing
the
need to consolidate efforts towards supporting, rehabilitating, developing,
integrating people with disabilities in their societies;
have declared the following Arab Decade for Persons with Disabilities
2004-2013
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