European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and EU external action

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European Disability Strategy 2010-2020andEU
external action
Inmaculada Placencia Porrero Deputy Head of
Unit Unit D3 Rights of Persons with
Disabilities European Commission DG
Justice Inmaculada.Placencia-porrero_at_ec.europa.eu
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The EU and the UN CRPD

• Commission proposal for Conclusion of the
  Convention and accession to Optional Protocol
• 29 August 2008
• Council Decision 2010/48 concerning the
  conclusion
• 26 November 2009
• 2 December 2010 Adoption of the Code of Conduct
• Entry into Force for the EU 22 January 2011
• Ratified by 25 MS

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European Disability Strategy 2010-2020

• Adopted on 15 November 2010.
• Communication on a European Disability Strategy
  2010-2020
• Accessibility of goods and services
• Participation as equal citizens in Europe and
  quality community-based services
• Equality and combating discrimination
• Employment in the open labour market
• Inclusive education and training
• Social protection to combat poverty and social
  exclusion
• Equal access to health services and related
  facilities
• External action including EU enlargement,
  neighbourhood and international development
  programmes
• Initial plan to implement the Strategy List of
  Actions 2010-2015

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Area nr. 8 gt EU External Action

• Specific objective
• To promote the rights of people with disabilities
  within a broader non-discriminatory approach in
  the EU external action, including the enlargement
  process and development
• programmes, taking due account of the common EU
  and Member States' approach to development.
• -Twin track approach
• -Training
• -Network in delegations
• -repository of information

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8 External Action Key actions (I)

• Ensure that the specific needs of persons with
  disabilities, including those who are disabled as
  a consequence of natural and man-made disasters,
  are properly assessed and addressed in the area
  of emergency and humanitarian aid outside the EU
• Highlight disability where appropriate as a
  human rights issue in the EU human rights
  dialogues with third countries, based on the
  principles of the UNCRPD
• Ensure that EU development cooperation reaches
  persons with disabilities, both through
  projects/programmes specifically targeting
  persons with disabilities and by improving the
  mainstreaming of disability concerns
• Enhance coherence and complementarity between
  the EU approach to persons with disabilities and
  EU assistance to survivors of landmine and
  explosive remnants of war during armed conflict
  and its aftermath
• Support the national efforts of partner
  countries for the signature, ratification and
  implementation of the UNCRPD
• Support where appropriate the institutional
  strengthening of Disabled Peoples' Organisations
  in partner countries and organisations dealing
  with disability and development

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8 External Action Key actions (II)

• Consolidate the network of disability focal
  points in EU Delegations and at Headquarters, and
  increase the awareness of EU staff on disability
  matters
• Promote that infrastructure financed in the
  framework of EU development projects meets the
  accessibility requirements of people with
  disabilities.
• Update the Guidance Note on Disability and
  Development to be in line with the UN Convention
  on the Rights of Person with Disabilities
• Ensure that progress is made by candidate and
  potential candidate countries on promoting the
  rights of persons with disabilities and that
  accession funds are used to improve their
  situation
• Encourage European Neighbourhood Policy partner
  countries to protect the rights of persons with
  disabilities mainstream disability-related
  issues through policy dialogue and exchange of
  experience and explore possibilities for
  financial assistance under the European
  Neighbourhood
• Policy and Partnership Instrument

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Agenda for Change

• Adopted in 2011 It sets out EU policy on future
  development cooperation.
• No specific reference to disability but the EU
  should focus on support on
• i) Human rights, democracy and other key elements
  of good governance.
• ii) Inclusive and sustainable growth for human
  development.
• EU development cooperation needs to be
  disability-inclusive promote the rights of PWDs
  and ensure that they can contribute to and
  benefit from the development efforts in their
  countries.

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EU Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human
Rights and Democracy (June 2012)

• It sets out principles, objectives and priorities
  designed to improve the effectiveness and
  consistency of EU policy in the next ten years.
  They provide an agreed basis for a truly
  collective effort, involving EU MS as well as the
  EU Institutions in partnership with civil
  society.
• Action 30 "Enjoyment of human rights by persons
  with disabilities" includes
• (a) Promote the rights of PWDs, including in
  development programmes, in the framework of the
  European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and
  implementation of the UNCRPD
• (b) Update the Guidance Note on Disability and
  Development to be in line with the UNCRPD.

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Communication A decent Life for all from vision
to collective action June 2014

• Key objectives
• eradicate poverty
• Sustainable development
• economic
• Environmental
• Social
• Targets and priorities specific mention to
  disability
• Health
• Education
• Employment
• Sustainable cities -gt Accessibility
• Targets related disability Inequalities, health,
  education, accessible transport accessible urban
  planning.

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Financial instruments

• -Multiannual financial Framework Heading 4
  External Action
• -Common Implementing Regulation In the design
  and implementation of programmes and projects,
  criteria regarding accessibility for persons with
  disabilities shall be duly taken into account.
• -Development Cooperation Instrument DCI-19,652
  M
• Disability -gtcross cutting issue, in geographic
  thematic programmes (education employment)
• -European Instrument for Democracy and Human
  Rights-1,333 M
• -gtequal participation of people with disabilities
  in social, economic and political life -gt the
  rights of persons with disabilities, as set out
  in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
  with Disabilities
• -Instrument for Pre-Accession IPA II-11,699 M
• Objectives-gt promotion of social and economic
  inclusion, in particular of minorities and
  vulnerable groups, including persons with
  disabilities, refugees and displaced persons
  Thematic priorities-gt Promoting social inclusion
  and combating poverty and discrimination i.a.
  disability.
• -Practical Guide to Contract Procedures EU
  external action All services, supplies, work and
  grants related to good, services and
  infrastructures(for the use of persons)must
  include in technical specifications accessibility
  requirements following a "design for all"
  approach.

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Conclusions

• -Increase visibility of disability matters
• -link to the UNCRPD
• -Post 2015 agenda
• - EU commitment participation in 2013 UNGA
  High-Level Meeting on Disability and Development
  (post-2015)

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Useful weblinks

• European Disability Strategy 2010-2020
  http//eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?
  uriCOM20100636FINENPDF
• Initial plan to implement the Strategy List of
  Actions 2010-2015 http//eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriS
  erv/LexUriServ.do?uriCELEX52010SC1324ENNOT
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of
  Persons with Disabilities http//www.un.org/disab
  ilities/