Over 100 Organizations Urge Commissioner Lahbib to “Maintain Momentum” on Disability Rights
Concerns Grow Over Lack of Action in the EU Disability Rights Strategy
Over 100 European disability organizations, including ASEE, have urged European Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, to renew and update the EU Disability Rights Strategy. This appeal, shared in an open letter published today on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, underscores the urgency of continued action.
The Strategy, launched in 2021 and set to run until 2030, has been instrumental in advancing disability rights, delivering milestones such as the Disability Employment Package. However, its outlined actions only extend through the end of 2023, and with these initiatives nearing completion, no plans have been announced to update or expand the Strategy for the remainder of its term. This lack of commitment has sparked concern within the disability community about the EU’s dedication to disability rights over the next five years.
The call for an updated Strategy is urgent. The European Disability Forum (EDF) has proposed a comprehensive five-year action plan that emphasizes key priorities, including new legislation on assistive technologies and a Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee to enhance job opportunities.
Organizations are pressing for an immediate commitment to update the Strategy, particularly as the UN prepares to review the EU’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March.
Related documents
EDF’s campaign page “Update the EU Disability Rights Strategy”
“Open letter to EU’s Equality Commissioner Hadja Lahbib: keep up the momentum on disability rights!”
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