The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE) reaffirmed, on Thursday 17 November, the need to fully implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In a report adopted with 44 votes in favour, 1 against and 5 abstentions, MEPs proposed concrete measures to ensure equal participation in social life and to combat discrimination against people with disabilities.
Thus, despite the progress made in meeting the standards of the CRPD, the report deplores a lack of horizontal European anti-discrimination legislation. It calls on the EU Council to bring to a successful conclusion the negotiations on the Equal Treatment Directive, which has been blocked since 2008 due to, among other things, issues relating to reasonable accommodation (see EUROPE 13032/16). At the same time, it invites the European Commission to “present specific measures in case it is not adopted”.
European funds. MEPs also denounce that EU funds are being mobilised for the construction of institutes (see EUROPE 13056/26), despite the Commission’s commitment to end the placement of people with disabilities in institutes or care centres in its Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030 (see EUROPE 12670/4) and the recommendations of the CRPD (see EUROPE 13030/21).
European Disability Card. In addition, they call for the extension of the benefits of the European Disability Card, an item foreseen in the Commission’s 2023 work programme (see EUROPE 13045/17). They point out that national differences in disability assessment systems hamper access to employment, health care, transport and education.
Protection against violence. Finally, MEPs urge all Member States to put an end to forced sterilisation practices (see EUROPE 13027/12). They also note that children, women and the LGBTQI+ community face increased risks of violence and discrimination.
The report also includes measures on political participation, access to health care, data collection and the inclusion of people with disabilities in climate disaster management.
The report, led by Anne-Sophie Pelletier (The Left, French), was the subject of a series of compromise amendments, all of which were adopted. It will be submitted to the European Parliament for approval at the December 2022 plenary session.
To read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/43x
And the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/43w (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)