All institutions and individuals have a key role to play in identifying and removing barriers which exclude or hinder people with disabilities, says a United Nations official.

Khalid Malik, the Resident Representative of the United Nations' Development Programme in China, made those remarks yesterday during the launch of a book titled ''Protecting the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: International and Comparative Law and Practice.''

The book launch marked International Day of Disabled Persons. The book's aim is to provide a practical tool for legal protection workers, researchers and social workers.

In his opening remarks, Deng Pufang, Chairman of China Disabled Persons' Federation and winner of the 2003 United Nations Prize in the Field Of Human Rights, said the Chinese Government and organizations working for disabled people have taken an active role in the formulation of the International Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Meanwhile, regional governments have adopted active measures co-ordinating undertakings by the central government to offer conveniences to disabled persons.

(China Daily 12/04/2003 page2)