WUNRN
European Commission - Employment,
Social Affairs & Equal Opportunities
EU - DISABLED PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO
EQUAL RIGHTS - DISABLED WOMEN
As full citizens, people with
disabilities have equal rights and are entitled to dignity, equal treatment,
independent living and full participation in society. Enabling people with
disabilities to enjoy these rights is the main purpose of the EU's long-term
strategy for their active inclusion. Centre piece of the European Disability
Strategy (2004-2010) is the Disability Action Plan (DAP). By 2010, the European
Commission wants to see improvements in employment prospects, accessibility and
independent living. Disabled people are involved in the process on the basis of
the European principle: 'Nothing about disabled people without disabled
people'.
The EU promotes the active inclusion and full participation of disabled
people in society, in line with the EU human rights approach to disability
issues. Disability is a rights issue and not a matter of discretion. This
approach is also at the core of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with
Disabilities, to which the European Community is a signatory.
FINDING & KEEPING JOBS
People with disabilities represent around one sixth of the overall EU
working age population but their employment rate is comparatively low. Disabled
people are almost twice as likely to be inactive as non-disabled people. Yet,
with a little more help, millions of disabled Europeans could enter or re-enter
the jobs market.
The EU Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs aims in particular to improve
the comparatively low work participation rates of
Member States set their own employment policies on the basis of the
European Employment Strategy (EES) guidelines. They report back yearly to the
European Commission on national employment initiatives, including those for
disability.
The EU policy work on Social Protection and Social Inclusion supports
Member States in developing policy for social inclusion, healthcare and social
services, thereby increasing the chances for disabled people to find and keep
work.
EDUCATION FOR ALL
Equal access to quality education and lifelong learning enable disabled
people to participate fully in society and improve their quality of life.
The European Commission supports the inclusion of children with
disabilities in mainstream education. It has launched several educational
initiatives for disabled persons. These include the European Agency for
Development in Special Needs Education, as well as a specific study group on disability
and lifelong learning. Community Programmes like the Lifelong Learning
programme are bringing the education and training of disabled people into the
mainstream.
LIVING INDEPENDENTLY
The aim is to provide disabled people with the same individual choices and
control in their daily lives as non-disabled people. Care and support services
are to be more tailored to the specific needs of people with disabilities. The
European Commission promotes affordable, accessible and quality social
services, and support through consolidated social and inclusion provisions.
The EU also supports the case for the de-institutionalisation of disabled people. The European Commission funds studies on the delivery of community-based services needed by disabled people to attain the right levels of security, freedom and independence for community living.
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