Europe is facing an increasingly complex and interconnected risk landscape, shaped by climate change, technological hazards, pandemics, and conflicts. Strengthening emergency preparedness and response has therefore become a central priority of the European Union (EU), as reflected in the Preparedness Union Strategy and the evolving framework of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). Preparedness systems that are inclusive, accessible, and people-centred are essential to ensuring that no one is left behind when crises occur.
Persons with disabilities represent a significant share of the population across the EU and participating states of the UCPM. They face heightened risks during emergencies not because of disability itself, but because preparedness, early warning, communication, evacuation, sheltering, and response systems are often not designed to be accessible or inclusive. These systemic barriers undermine both the effectiveness of emergency management and the commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
At the same time, progress over the past five years has been considerable and clearly evident. Compared with the first regional review of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction policy and practice conducted by the European Disability Forum (EDF) across Europe and Central Asia, there is increased awareness, stronger policy signals, and a growing number of emerging practices across multiple countries.
In this context, the Preparedness Union Strategy emphasises that preparedness must be inclusive and enable all people to contribute to resilience.
“A prepared society is a society where nobody is left behind and has the opportunity to contribute.”
— Hans Das, Deputy Director-General, DG ECHO, European Commission
Building on this policy direction, this diagnostic examines whether and how persons with disabilities are meaningfully included in emergency preparedness and response across UCPM Member and Participating States and Kosovo[2], and whether current systems enable them not only to be protected, but also to contribute their knowledge, experience, and capacities to collective resilience.