September 2011
People with disabilities demand inclusive policies to go out of the crisis
Living together is found in doing it together!Adopted by the participant to the DPI Europe Regional AssemblySeptember
3-4th,2011,Balatonmariafurdo, Hungary
Final Motion
90 millions of people with disabilities in Europe risk to lose the achievement of their Human Rights
DPI Europe requires that the resources must be addressed to improve the rights of all persons, above all of persons who are excluded and discriminated!
At the end of two days discussions and exchanges during the Assembly of DPI-Europe, the participants approve the following Motion to be addressed to the European Chiefs of Government and European Union:
The approach of someGovernments to confront the actual financial crisis is to cut rights, benefits and services for disabled people. This means, stopping the process of inclusion gained by disabled people actively fighting for their rights. These Governments react with their policies to even more segregation, and close all doors for education, employment, independent living. This political reaction will produce more costs in institutionalization and less of contribution to the national gross domestic product.
These policies are based on a conception of disability that cannot be anymore applied and that considers us as a burden for the society. Governments that reduce pensions and benefits are also reducing support and services. If people with disabilities are really part of society they need to be supported in inclusion and not be excluded. Exclusion means loss of Human Rights. Then one really has to ask what quality of life a government wants to support for the citizens with disabilities and if this life is still worth living to a human being?
The UN Agencies assert that the number of people with disabilities is growing, that 15 % of the people are with disabilities and that disability is an interaction, not an individual condition.The Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD) calls the construction of an inclusive society were all human can be safe and secure whatever their abilities.
Disability is an interaction not an individual conditionandpeople are not the problem but the solution.
Inclusion of people with disabilities in all policies is a right and a benefit for all members of society, all human beings will make experience of disability during their life, and the prevention of disability is not only a medical matter, but also an ethical and social issue.
DPI Europe is grateful to the 17 European Union countries that have ratified the CRPD; in particular the 14 have that have ratified the Optional Protocol. Those countries have committed themselves to include people with disabilities on an equal basis with others, to facilitate their contribution to the development of society and to assure their enjoyment of the results. DPI supports the implementation of the Human Rights all over the world and requires that the resources must be addressed to improve the rights of all persons, above all of persons who are excluded and discriminated.
People with disabilities demand to react to the crisis with inclusive policies.DPI Europe welcomes the European strategy on disability that is an encouraging first step, butEuropean society needs more engagement from the countriesthat have signed and ratified the CRPD.
Therefore we demand:
- The implementation of the CRPD in equal partnershipswith people with disabilities and DPOs,
-The adoption of European and National Action Plans based on CRPDfor the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every country.
- The use of Inclusive development as a strategyto implement Human Rights
- The engagement of solutions to the crisis withno limitation of Human Right
4 sept. 2011
Disabled Peoples' International - Europe