International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 5, 2008 - On December 3 the world celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The 2008 theme is the "UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and Justice for All of Us."

The year 2008 also marks the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In acknowledgement of this special day, the Bank Group's Disabilities Working Group celebrated the day by hosting a public forum.The Office of Diversity Programs in HRS - led by Julie Oyegun, chief diversity officer, sponsored the event.

Joy Phumaphi, vice president and head of network, HDNVP, provided opening remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, His Excellency Luis Gallegos, the Ambassador of Ecuador. Ambassador Gallegos chaired the Ad Hoc Committee that developed this Convention.

Following the speakers there was a performance by the Dancing Wheels Company,"Walking on Clouds," a ballet by David Rousseve. Throughout the last two decades, Dancing Wheels has performed, taught, and inspired children and adults of all abilities around the world.