For the first time, the G7 ministers met to discuss inclusion and disability issues. Under the Italian Presidency, this meeting, which took place in Solfagnano, in Umbria, from 14 to 16 October, led to the adoption of the ‘Solfagnano Charter’.
This text expresses a strong commitment to the integration of people with disabilities, setting out eight priorities to ensure their full participation in social, political and economic life (see EUROPE 13502/15).
Commitments to inclusion. The Solfagnano Charter is based on principles guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It calls for greater international collaboration to eliminate barriers to inclusion and participation.
The text calls for the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society, from education and employment to leisure and emergency situations.
The declaration also stresses the need for accessible infrastructures, adapted health services and new inclusive technologies.
The principle of “Nothing About Us, Without Us” is also reaffirmed in it, to directly involve people with disabilities in decision-making.
The European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, who attended the three days of meetings, recalled there the European initiatives in this area.
At the closing press conference, she said that there are around 100 million citizens with disabilities in the European Union, many of whom are at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
She urged the implementation of the UN Convention and the European strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, mentioning initiatives such as the European legislative act on accessibility and the European Disability Card.
“It is our duty to guarantee their full participation in society with the same opportunities as other citizens”, she declared.
A mixed reception from disability rights groups. While the ‘Solfagnano Charter; has been welcomed, it has not escaped criticism. The European Disability Forum (EDF) welcomed the initiative, but called on the G7 countries to take concrete action. EDF President, Yannis Vardakastanis, stated in a press release that “the (...) Charter is a promising declaration, but its true impact will depend on it being followed by real improvements”.
He also called on leaders to invest in specific policies and dedicated funding to ensure that commitments are not just words.
According to EDF, the language of the ‘Charter’ is still too general. People with disabilities expect more specific measures, particularly in terms of universal accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.
Towards a global model of inclusion. The Solfagnano Charter is intended to serve as a model for other international forums, such as the G20 and the Global Disability Summit in Berlin, in 2025. By adopting this text, the G7 members have committed themselves to continuing to work together to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities, not only in their own countries, but also on a global scale. To read the charter: https://aeur.eu/f/dx3 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)