President of China Disabled Persons' Federation president, Mr. Deng Pufang, was awarded the 2003 United Nations Prize for Human Rights at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 10 December 2003.
Mr. Deng Pufang, along with three other elite advocates of human rights, including the late UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio de Mello, and two organizations, were invited to attend the General Assembly meeting and presented with their commemorative plaques by Mr. Hunte, President of the 58th Session of the General Assembly, on the Human Rights Day of this year.
The prize was established in 1966 in the lead-up to the International Year for Human Rights. It is envisaged as a measure to honor and commend people and organizations which have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of the human rights.
Mr. Deng Pufang, born in 1944, was admitted in 1962 by Peking University - the highest institution of learning in China - where he was determined to dedicate himself to be a physicist. In 1968, the political catastrophe of "Cultural Revolution" made him paraplegic. The high rises and deep falls of the destiny forged his determination to diligently pursue the humanitarian courses. He established China Disabled Persons' Federation and China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe and devoted himself to the challenging endeavor of creating new life for disabled persons. He received the titles and awards such as the "United Nations Peace Messenger", "Special Award of Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons", "Lions Clubs International Award" and "Paul Harris Award of Rotary International", etc. He led the Chinese disabled people to explore the development of special art and held five National Art Festivals of Disabled Persons, which helped forging disabled performing artists and creating masterpiece of special art. The China Disabled People' Performing Arts Troupe have traversed the length and breadth of the motherland and visited over 30 countries. They bring people a treat of art and a touch of heart through their special way.
