Drawing on the experience of persons with disabilities during the COVID‑19 pandemic and our previous work, the European Disability Forum calls on the European Commission to:
1. Political commitment and accountability
Ensure political commitment and accountability to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities at all times, including in situations of risk, humanitarian and health emergencies, and to assess and investigate the impact of crisis responses on persons with disabilities.
2. Meaningful consultation and participation
Adopt measures to ensure systematic consultation and meaningful involvement of all persons with disabilities, through their representative organisations, in all decisions that affect their lives. This must include the most disadvantaged groups, such as self‑advocates, and requires adequate and sustainable funding for organisations of persons with disabilities.
3. Disability‑inclusive preparedness and response
Invest in disability‑inclusive preparedness and response, including accessible public health announcements and emergency communication, as well as targeted measures to support persons with disabilities.
Adequate resources must be allocated to:
- Ensure that mainstream services are inclusive and accessible, including vaccination programmes, violence prevention and emergency responses; and
- Guarantee the continuity of essential services and support, including access to essential medical supplies and assistive technologies.
4. Accessibility and inclusion at all levels
Ensure accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities at all levels, including governance, information, response and recovery measures, service provision and society at large.
Investment in the accessibility of information and communication technologies, transport, other services and the built environment must be maintained and prioritised.
5. Essential health and support services
Ensure that disability‑specific and mainstream health and support services are available, accessible, affordable and recognised as essential services for all persons with disabilities, coordinated and continuous across the life course.
6. End institutionalisation
End institutionalisation by investing in independent living and supported decision‑making, and by fostering the transition from institutional settings to community‑based support services, including in mental health care.
7. Inclusive, rights‑based mental health services
Ensure inclusive, rights‑based mental health services, including:
- Availability, accessibility and diversity of services;
- Prevention and prohibition of forced placement and treatment;
- Training of mental health professionals in disability rights and person‑centred approaches.
8. Human rights‑based approach
Ensure a human rights‑based approach across all actions, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), including:
- Equality and non‑discrimination in legislation and practice;
- Protection from violence, abuse, exclusion, coercion and neglect, with disability‑, gender‑ and age‑sensitive measures;
- Continuous and independent human rights monitoring;
- Free and informed consent in all medical interventions, including vaccination.
9. Protection of women and girls with disabilities
Ensure the protection of women and girls with disabilities against violence and abuse, and the availability and accessibility of support services, including those related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
10. Disaggregated data collection
Ensure the collection and use of disaggregated data to inform policies and investments, including data disaggregated by disability, age and gender, covering persons in institutions and other closed settings.
11. Budget allocation and accountability
Ensure adequate budget allocation, tracking and accountability, including dedicated funding for disability inclusion and the systematic use of the OECD DAC disability policy marker in global health financing.
12. Global health governance and partnerships
Promote disability inclusion in global health governance and partnerships, including through EU leadership in multilateral, regional and bilateral cooperation.