Designates December of 3rd of each year as "International Day of Persons with Disabilities."

AJR125

ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 125

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

Assemblywoman� ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates December of 3rd of each year as
�International Day of Persons with Disabilities.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution

designating December 3rd
of each year as �International Day of Persons with Disabilities.�

Whereas,

�
Disability inclusion is an essential condition to
upholding human rights, sustainable development, peace, and security; and

Whereas,

�
People with disabilities are one of the most
excluded groups in our society, as these individuals are less likely to access
health care, education, employment, and to participate in the community, and
are among the hardest hit in this crisis in terms of fatalities; and

Whereas,

�
The global crisis of COVID-19 is deepening
pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting
that working on disability inclusion is imperative; and

Whereas,

�
The annual observance of the International Day of
Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations (UN) General Assembly
Resolution 47/3, which aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons
with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase
awareness of the situations of persons with disabilities in every aspect of
political, social, economic and cultural life; and

Whereas,

�Building on many decades of the UN�s work in the field of disability, the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has further advanced the
rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international development
frameworks
; and

Whereas,

�The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization marked
the International Day of Persons with Disabilities this year with a week-long program
under the theme: "Building back better: towards an inclusive, accessible
and sustainable post COVID-19 world by, for and with persons with
disabilities;� and organized a global awareness raising campaign on its
official social media channels, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
on people living with disabilities and on the immediate response to the crisis
through open, inclusive and innovative use of digital solutions, tools and
resources
; and

Whereas,
�
As an early epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States,� New
Jersey suffered heavy losses, which revealed many of the systematic disparities
that continue to exist in this State; therefore, it is proper and fitting that
this State promotes the public understanding of the inequalities that exclude
people living with disabilities, mobilizes support for the dignity, rights, and
well-being of persons with disabilities, and increases awareness of the gains
derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of
political, social, economic and cultural life
;
now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� December 3rd of each
year is designated as �International Day of Persons with Disabilities� in the
State of New Jersey, and the citizens are urged to observe the day with
appropriate activities and programs.

���� 2.��� The Governor is
respectfully requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public
officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the day with appropriate
activities and programs.

���� 3.��� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This joint resolution designates
December of 3rd of each year as �International Day of Persons with
Disabilities� in New Jersey to State promote the public understanding of the
inequalities that exclude people living with disabilities, mobilize support for
the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities, and increase
awareness of the gains derived from the integration of persons with
disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.

���� The joint resolution
respectfully requests the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing
December of 3rd as �International Day of Persons with Disabilities� in New
Jersey and calls upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to
observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.�