International Day of Persons with Disabilities

This article highlights the significance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, observed annually on December 3. The commemoration began with the adoption of the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons by the United Nations General Assembly in 1982, which aimed to promote the rights, equality and quality of life of persons with disabilities while encouraging global participation in related activities. The article examines the situation of persons with disabilities in the Asia–Pacific region, which has the largest population of people with disabilities worldwide. Contributing factors include poverty, disasters, and the lack of community-based rehabilitation and education systems. International organizations such as UNESCAP have emphasized disability-inclusive development, ensuring that persons with disabilities are integral to regional economic and social progress. Within the Thai context, the article focuses on the role of the Buddharaksa Moral Community, which originated from the projects of the Sunday Buddhist Study Centers and the Buddhist Moral Promotion Unit under the Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture. Over time, the community has evolved into the “Buddharaksa Moral Community” in alignment with the Bovorn (Home–Temple–School–Government) framework. Its mission is to support persons with disabilities through spiritual, social and welfare dimensions, facilitating their access to state welfare schemes while supplementing this with community-based volunteer services. This integrated approach fosters a compassionate, inclusive and sustainable society where persons with disabilities can live with dignity and become active members of their communities.