International Day of Disabled Persons

A holiday established by the International Labour Organization, observed on the third Sunday of March since 1956. The decision was influenced by the tragic events at the Bois du Cazier coal mine in Belgium, where 262 people were killed and dozens were seriously injured. A similar holiday, with slightly broader global scope, is observed on December 3rd as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, established by the UN. The goal of both initiatives is to raise awareness of the issues faced by disabled persons and to combat social exclusion and strive for equality. Social integration has always been a key issue for the proper functioning of disabled persons. Thanks to international efforts, this situation has improved significantly - disability is no longer considered shameful or unnatural. The majority of countries worldwide have signed the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (Poland ratified it in 2012), thereby committing to making every effort to ensure full access to public life for disabled persons. Unfortunately, there is still much work to be done - especially in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, approximately one billion people live with some form of disability, with about half lacking access to proper medical care, including rehabilitation, in many cases enabling a relative return to health. Furthermore, with aging populations in many countries, the number of disabled persons is steadily increasing. Therefore, as important as legislative actions are, acts of solidarity and care, such as the selfless assistance of millions of volunteers worldwide, are no less important.