With the support of the Chinese government, Rehabilitation International (RI), a non-profit NGO, has launched more than 30 welfare projects benefiting people with disabilities worldwide in recent years, according to a press conference on Tuesday.

Founded in 1922, RI is committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of disabled people and promoting their development. 

In its motto, it says that it aims to promote and protect the rights of people with disabilities and advocate for their participation in social activities. 

The organization initiated and promoted the Paralympic Games in 1951 and proposed the logo "Accessible" to the international community in 1969. 

Its Outstanding Achievement Awards was founded in 2019 and only three people from around the world were granted them that year, including Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, president of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, now serves as RI's chairperson.

China designated the third Sunday of each May as a national day of assisting disabled persons, which falls on May 21 this year.

China to hold centennial celebration for RI

According to Zhang, the RI will hold a centennial celebration in Beijing from May 19 to 23, during which some 500 participants from around the world will attend the opening ceremony and the following forums at the National Convention Center.

During the evening banquet on May 21, the organization will grant three people with the Outstanding Achievement Awards and 100 representatives and units with the Centennial Contribution Awards. 

The organization will also release its Centennial Declaration on Monday and submit it to the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General of the UN.

Zhang said the declaration will have a profound influence in finding ways to better serve people with disabilities.

"We call on governments, the international community and all people to respect human diversity and human rights, pay more attention to disabled people who account for 15 percent of the world's population, promote their equal participation and all-round development, and build a peaceful, inclusive and friendly society." 

The declaration will also call on the UN to establish a world organization for people with disabilities to promote global awareness, Zhang added. 

(With input from Xinhua; CGTN's Zheng Yibing contributed to the story.)