Adoption of the EC’s Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030
In the context of the coronavirus pandemic continuing to exacerbate vulnerabilities, the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 has been adopted by the European Commission, as part of the European Union’s commitment to promoting, protecting and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by individuals with disabilities and complex needs.
The rare disease community should note that Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 supports a number or priorities and key recommendations outlined in the EURORDIS’ position paper "Achieving Holistic Person-Centred Care to Leave No One Behind" (2019) as well as the recommendations from the Rare 2030 Foresight Study on the future of rare disease policy (2021). These priorities include the improvement of awareness and support strategies for patients with disabilities related to rare diseases, social protection focusing on persons with disabilities and disability assessment frameworks and labour market outcomes of persons with disabilities, including reasonable accommodation.
Obtening an adequate disability assessment remains one of the main obstacles for 53% of people living with a rare disease, who face inadequate assessments (34%) or do not receive an assessment at all despite needing one (19%). The adoption of the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030, therefore, represents a major step forward for people living with a rare disease facing serious challenges in their daily lives due to motor, sensorineural or intellectual impairments.
Following the adoption by the European Commission of the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030, EURORDIS has called upon the Member States of the European Union to incorporate this Strategy into their national legislation to fulfil their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
