Photo via World Down Syndrome Day.
Today is World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) – a global awareness day, which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The theme this year is: “With us, not for us”, calling for a human rights based approach to disability, which views people with disabilities as having the right to be treated fairly and have the same opportunities as everyone else, working with others to improve their lives.
The theme has been developed from ideas generated by the Down Syndrome international (DSi) team of ambassadors. The ambassadors are people with Down Syndrome from around the world who represent people with Down Syndrome in their country.
WDSD is observed every year on March 21. The date, being the 21st day of the third month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down Syndrome.
On WDSD, DSi encourages people around the world to speak up together to create a single global voice. “Together we advocate for the rights, inclusion and well-being of people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities,” the organisation remarks in their WDSD 2023 theme guide.
“For World Down Syndrome Day 2023, we call for people and organisations around the world to be ‘With Us, Not For Us’. The message of ‘With Us, Not For Us’ is key to a human rights-based approach to disability. In the past, people with disabilities were treated as objects of charity who relied on others for help and support. The DSi network has moved on from this. A human rights-based approach views people with disabilities as having the right be treated fairly and have the same opportunities as everyone else, working with others to improve their lives.”
The organisation’s first message is about having the freedom to make your own choices. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for everyone to have the freedom to make their own choices. But people with Down Syndrome often have poor or controlling support. Often their supporters do things for them not with them. The global network of people with Down Syndrome calls for all supporters to be “With Us Not For Us.”
The second message is about inclusion in the work of organisations. The United Nations Convention calls for full and effective participation of persons with disabilities. But many organisations exclude people with Down Syndrome from taking part in their work. They take decisions for them not with them. Our global network calls for all organisations to include people with Down Syndrome and be “With Us, Not For Us”.
The third message is about organisations of persons with disabilities. Down Syndrome International and its members are Organisations of Persons with Disabilities. This means they represent and work with people with Down Syndrome, not just for them. The United Nations Committee says that organisations of persons with disabilities should be involved in all policy and decision-making. But organisations that represent people with Down Syndrome are often excluded. The DSi global network calls for all decision makers to involve organisations representing people with Down Syndrome in all decisions, and work “With Us, Not For Us”.
About Down Syndrome International (DSi)
DSi is an international network of organisations of people with disabilities. The members work together to promote the rights of people with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. “We speak up for inclusion on a full and equal basis with others. We are also the custodians of World Down Syndrome Day. We develop the annual campaign theme and organise celebratory events at the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva.
