03/12/2025
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
On December 3rd each year, the world observes the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an international occasion aimed at raising awareness about disability issues and highlighting the importance of community inclusion and empowerment as one of the fundamental pillars of human rights. In light of the social and economic challenges facing the world, attention to the rights of persons with disabilities has become a necessity no less important than any other developmental issue.
World Health Organization estimates indicate that more than one billion people worldwide, or approximately 15% of the earth's population, live with some form of disability. According to United Nations data, these individuals face daily barriers that prevent their full participation in society, whether in education, employment, or access to basic services. About 80% of persons with disabilities live in developing countries, where their suffering is exacerbated by limited available resources, lack of health and rehabilitation services, and weak supportive infrastructure, making their chances of obtaining their basic rights more difficult compared to their counterparts in developed countries. This has prompted international institutions to intensify their efforts to integrate the rights of persons with disabilities into development plans and national policies, particularly in the most needy countries.
International Efforts to Support the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Recent years have witnessed an increase in international efforts to address disability challenges. In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly designated December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and the most important step came on December 13, 2006, with the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is considered the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the twenty-first century. This convention has been ratified by 191 countries as of 2023, making it one of the most widely accepted international treaties.
The United Nations also launched in June 2019 a strategy for mainstreaming the disability perspective across all pillars of its work, calling for breaking down societal barriers and expanding the scope of services in governmental and private institutions. In addition, some European and Asian countries have implemented advanced policies for comprehensive accessibility, from adapting public transportation to providing assistive technologies in education and employment. Major companies have also adopted "inclusive employment" policies, which provide persons with disabilities with genuine job opportunities at fair wages, contributing to their economic integration and enhancing their independence.
Egypt's Efforts in Promoting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Egypt is paying increasing attention to the issues of persons with disabilities as an integral part of the human rights system. Egypt joined the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities through Presidential Decree No. 400 of 2007, and the 2014 Constitution stipulated that international conventions ratified by Egypt acquire the force of law.
The most prominent step came with the issuance of Law No. 10 of 2018 on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which aims to ensure their enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with others. The law includes a set of basic rights, including requiring governmental and non-governmental entities to appoint 5% of their employees from among persons with disabilities, and providing education, health, and transportation services in an accessible manner without discrimination.
According to data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, the percentage of individuals with disabilities in Egypt is approximately 11% of the population, or about 10 million people. The illiteracy rate among persons with disabilities reached approximately 50%, while the percentage of those holding university degrees does not exceed 5.2%. In the field of employment, 72.4% of persons with disabilities are not working, an indicator that reflects the magnitude of the economic and social challenge.
Important and prominent initiatives have also been launched, including the presidential initiative "Haya Karima," which was not limited to comprehensive development but extended to include support for persons with disabilities through the establishment and development of 21 rehabilitation centers for persons with disabilities with investments of 200 million pounds, alongside providing job opportunities through the distribution of "wheelchairs and assistive devices." According to data from the Ministry of Social Solidarity, approximately 1.2 million integrated service cards were issued during 2023 and 2024, providing their holders with benefits in education, health, and transportation.
Challenges and Barriers Facing Progress
Despite notable progress, there are still many challenges that require serious attention, most notably the gap between legal text and actual implementation. Despite the law requiring the appointment of 5% of persons with disabilities, reality indicates weak compliance in many institutions. In addition to the continued social stigma that makes many view persons with disabilities as burdens rather than human resources capable of production and giving.
Experts emphasize that addressing these challenges requires improving infrastructure and accessibility in government buildings and public transportation, increasing government spending on rehabilitation and vocational training programs, enhancing the media's role in spreading a culture of acceptance and respect, alongside integrating awareness programs on disability rights in schools, universities, and workplaces. In addition to the urgent need to establish a unified and accurate national database, given the significant discrepancy in statistics regarding the number of persons with disabilities in Egypt.
Achieving an inclusive society for all can only be accomplished through the collaboration of government institutions, civil society, and the private sector to spread a culture of equality and respect and encourage persons with disabilities to participate fully in public life without barriers or fear. The rights of persons with disabilities are not a grant or charity, but rather a fundamental right and a pillar of human development and social justice.