Brussels, 29/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Saturday 27 July, the European Committee of Social Rights of the Council of Europe found against Belgium for the shortcomings identified in its system of facilities and housing for highly dependent adults living with disabilities, of whom there are nearly 74,000 in the kingdom. This ruling now paves the way for individual suits.
The Committee's verdict is clear and irrevocable: there are not enough places in Belgium to accommodate people suffering from multiple disabilities, autism, acquired brain injury or cerebral palsy. “This shortcoming constitutes a breach of the European Social Charter”, said the Council, following a collective claim brought in December 2011 by the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) on behalf of some 20 associations representing the disabled in Belgium. The Council rejected the arguments put forward by the Belgian authorities, such as budgetary issues and the increase in average life expectancy of the disabled. (JK/transl.fl)