KING ABDULLAH II OF JORDAN TO ACCEPT FDR INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY AWARD AT UNITED NATIONS, 23 MARCH

(I-Newswire) March 22, 2005 - Other speakers include Nane Annan, who will deliver the Secretary-General's message on his behalf; Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the granddaughter of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and Co-Chair of the Institute bearing their name; Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, Co-Chair of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute; Alan A. Reich, Chairman of the Washington-based World Committee on Disability; film and television actor Robert David Hall, Board of Directors, National Organization on Disability and "medical examiner" on CBS-TV's "CSI-Crime Scene Investigation"; and Clyde C. Tuggle, Senior Vice-President, Worldwide Public Affairs and Communication, The Coca-Cola Company.



Jordan will be honoured for its exemplary efforts to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. One of the first Middle East countries to enact disability legislation and introduce building codes aimed at accessibility, Jordan has been carrying out a wide range of activities aimed at its disability community.



The Award is given out by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World Committee on Disability. It recognizes outstanding action in support of the United Nations World Programme of Action Concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1982 (resolution 37/52).



The World Programme of Action is a global strategy to enhance disability prevention, rehabilitation and equalization of opportunities, which advocates full participation of persons with disabilities in social life and national development. "Equalization of opportunities" is its guiding philosophy for achieving full participation in all aspects of social and economic life. Accordingly, disability issues should not be treated in isolation, but within the context of normal community services.



The Award includes $50,000 which will be given to a disability organization in Jordan. The recipient will be announced at the awards presentation. Past recipients are Italy, Ecuador, Thailand, Hungary, Ireland, Canada and the Republic of Korea.



Member States interested in applying for the Award may contact the World Committee on Disability (tel.: (202) 293-5960, or www.worldcommitteeondisability.org).



Media not accredited to the United Nations interested in covering the event should submit their application, signed by the bureau chief/editor, to Nikolay Bolshakov, Officer-in Charge, Media Accreditation and Liaison Unit, Department of Public Information, fax (212) 963 4642. Information can be obtained from the Web site: un.org/media/accreditation. Queries should be directed to the Unit, tel: (212) 963 6734, 963 6937 or 963 2318, e-mail: mehtav@un.org.



For information, please contact Edoardo Bellando, Department of Public Information, tel.: (212) 963 8275, e-mail: bellando@un.org.

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