ABSTRACT
The commitment of the United Nations to human rights underpins the whole of its work in the social and humanitarian field, as first expressed in its Charter and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), and most recently in the above commitment made by heads of state at the World Summit on Children in 2002. But since the UN can do nothing without the agreement and financial backing of its member states, it has to use its influence to ensure that the rhetoric of UN principles is translated to reality at national and local level by persuading governments to make a clear commitment to humanitarian and social development in general and to the human rights of disabled children and adults in particular.
