A report published on Wednesday 5 March by the European Disability Forum (EDF) shows that the European Union is not fully complying with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Despite its ratification in 2011 as a regional integration organisation, the EDF argues that the EU is not implementing the necessary measures to guarantee the rights of 100 million people with disabilities.
The document, submitted to a group of UN experts due to conduct a review of the European approach in Geneva on 11 and 12 March, points to a lack of political leadership and a fragmented strategy.
The shortcomings include a lack of systematic assessment of the impact of laws on people with disabilities, an inadequate legislative framework against discrimination and persistent obstacles to freedom of movement and the right to vote.
In a press release, the Forum’s President, Yannis Vardakastanis, calls for a more ambitious European strategy: “Despite some progress, the EU lacks a coherent approach to guaranteeing our rights”. The EDF is therefore sounding the alarm to the European institutions, calling for “a solid plan”.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/fqt (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)