As the European Union embarks on a new legislative cycle with a new Parliament and Commission, many member states are shifting politically to the right. This shift raises concerns about the future of disability rights, particularly as President Ursula von der Leyen’s recent speech failed to mention disability or commit to extending the European Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030, set to conclude this year.
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024, the European Disability Forum’s Youth Committee amplifies the voices of young people with disabilities, presenting their demands for a more inclusive and equitable Europe, including:
- Advance Disability Rights: commit to removing barriers and promoting dignity, independence, and inclusion for all persons with disabilities, guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
- Youth Participation in Policymaking: actively involve young people with disabilities by consulting them on the barriers they face and the solutions they propose.
- Representation in Decision-Making: ensure all persons with disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities, have full representation in decision-making processes, supported by accessible communication and inclusive practices.
- Follow Through on Legal Commitments: uphold Article 12 of the UN CRPD by ensuring the legal capacity of all persons with disabilities and safeguarding commitments like the European Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030.
- Inclusive Systems: create accessible and inclusive opportunities in employment, skills development, and education for persons with disabilities.
- Global Leadership: position Europe as a global leader in promoting equality, inclusion, and peace, with human rights as the foundation of all decisions.
Amir Alibabic
On this European Day of Persons with Disabilities, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more inclusive Europe. At a time when global challenges are intensifying, from conflict and instability to the rise of divisive rhetoric, the European Union must stand as a pillar of peace, equality, and equity.
As the new team of EU Commissioners takes the helm, we have a renewed opportunity to lead by example, guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This means advancing the rights of persons with disabilities, removing barriers, and creating a society where everyone can thrive with dignity and independence.
Now is the time for Europe to rise as a geopolitical force, promoting peace and inclusion at home and abroad. Let this day remind us that an equitable society is not just a vision. It is our collective responsibility.
Lydia Vlagsma
As young people with disabilities, we need the European Union to commit to fighting for our rights. Include our voices in the development of new policy, ask us about the barriers that we experience and consult us about possible solutions. We urge you to follow up on the European Disability Rights Strategy – not only for its direct policy effects but also for setting an example to all EU member states. Let’s make World Disability Day this year more than a day of celebration and commemoration – let’s make it a day of commitment.
Tamara Byrne
Don’t forget to include people with intellectual disabilities when you make decisions and policies. Ask us questions, don’t make them too difficult so that we don’t know how to answer them. We want to make our own decisions and not feel left out. That’s why it is important that employment, skill development and education are inclusive and accessible for all.
Nina Portolan
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities we, the youth leaders of the disability rights movement, call on international institutions to uphold their commitments to the UN CRPD and particularly General Comment 5 on Independent Living. These frameworks are more than policy tools. They are promises to ensure dignity, inclusion, and equality for disabled people, which must be safeguarded, especially in the face of recent political and social turmoil.
The principles of Human Rights and guarantees outlined by the United Nations are universal. Their implementation is critical not just for Europe, but as a global standard. As such, it must be at the foundation of all future decision-making.
In shaping a cohesive framework that unites our efforts, we must acknowledge the contributions of the UN and the Council of Europe, alongside EU institutions and national bodies, to ensure efficient collaboration that can lead to real social change. A key step on this path is ensuring disabled people’s full representation in the decision-making process.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities must not be the only day when stakeholders keep the community in mind. Instead, creating a stronger, inclusive, accessible and equitable society is what we should all be committed to, every day.
Elisa Marino
In Europe still too often people with disabilities cannot self-determine and decide for themselves. I hope that the International Day of Persons with Disabilities will be a warning to governments and states urging them to ensure legal capacity to all persons with disabilities no matter their disability thus implementing Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.