POLICY WATCH
Alzheimer Europe speaks to Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli about the EU’s action on disability rights On 5 March 2021, the European Commission launched the “Union of Equality: Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021–2030”, setting out how the Commission aims to uphold the rights of people with disabilities across the EU. In this article, Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli explains what this means for people with dementia. What are the key commitments in the new “Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021–2030”?
EU level, and supports and complements Member States’ actions to implement the Convention.
Persons with disabilities must be able to participate in society on an equal basis with everyone else. The new Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021– 2030 aims to ensure their full participation and address any discrimination based on the grounds of disability. It also provides a framework for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) at the
The strategy contains eight headers, including accessibility, EU rights, quality of life, living independently, equal access, non-discrimination, promoting the rights of persons with disabilities globally, and leading by example. To ensure rights in practice, the Strategy sets out 7 core actions and 57 additional measures at EU level for the coming 10 years. To name a
The Disability Rights Strategy was published in March 2021
few examples: by 2023 the Commission will issue guidance recommending to EU Member States improvements on independent living and inclusion in the community, thus enabling persons with disabilities to choose where and how to live. We will also present a framework for social services of excellence for persons with disabilities. I must clarify that the European Commission does not have the power to enact the necessary changes on its own, in all the areas concerned. The objectives of this Strategy can only be reached through coordinated action at both the national and the EU levels, with a strong commitment from Member States. For this reason, the Strategy includes 23 calls
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Persons with disabilities must be able to participate in society on an equal basis with everyone else. The new Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021–2030 aims to ensure their full participation and address any discrimination based on the grounds of disability.”
18 Dementia in Europe
