World Down Syndrome Day Press Release

World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated as a global awareness day. World Down Syndrome Day was first celebrated in the world on March 21, 2006, and it was recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011 and has been celebrated as an international day since 2012.  

Down syndrome can occur due to a genetic abnormality in the number of chromosomes in humans. People with Down syndrome generally face discrimination in society due to their different facial features. For this reason, they are unable to participate in social, cultural, and political activities. Every person has the desire to participate in various aspects of life, learn, work, and conduct daily life. At least when those desires become the main issue and those issues are not included in the mainstreaming of development, they are deprived of basic rights such as education, employment, participation, and health care. World Down Syndrome Day will be meaningful only if the recommendations made by the United Nations CRPD Committee to the Government of Nepal on March 1, 2018 regarding the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on issues of intellectual disabilities (including Down syndrome) are implemented.

Finally, on the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day, the Federation of Parents of Intellectual Disabilities Nepal extends its warmest wishes to all people with Down syndrome disabilities, including everyone.   

Thank you.      

Dated 21 March 2023

  …………….

Raju Basnet

Chairman