PRESS RELEASE: 76% of Disabled People Surveyed ARE NOT CONFIDENT THAT THEIR RIGHTS WILL IMPROVE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
Research from Disability Wales has shown that 76% of disabled people surveyed are not confident that their rights will improve over the next five years. The same survey showed that 68% of disabled people did not feel that their rights are currently adequately enforced and that 57% of disabled people do not feel like their rights are protected in work.
The survey was conducted as part of “Bring Us Our Rights: The Disabled People’s Manifesto”, which highlights many key areas for advancing equality for disabled people and as well as offering policy solutions. The manifesto is being launched ahead of the upcoming Senedd Cymru elections next May.
Disability Wales is calling for the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRDP) to be incorporated in Welsh law. The UN Treaty comprehensively outlines disabled people’s rights whether in education, employment, independent living or health. Incorporation would mean that disabled people’s rights would have to be taken into account regarding every law enacted in the Senedd. It would also provide a framework through which Ministers would develop policy and public bodies and others would deliver services that impact on the lives of disabled people
Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales states:
“Disability Wales has been calling for the incorporation of the UNCRDP for a long time now and these findings show why. Many disabled people in Wales don’t feel that they are being listened to by those in power and are concerned that their rights are not on the agenda let alone being protected.”
“The coronavirus pandemic, whereby disabled people have comprised 68%* of deaths in Wales has exposed the stark inequalities faced by disabled people in society and widespread instances of their human rights being in breach or potentially breached. The Disabled People’s Manifesto has brought together disabled people from across Wales to give their views and talk about their priorities. It provides a vital tool for the next Welsh Government to help influence and inform their programme and ensure that the rights of 22% of the population are upheld.”
One disabled member has stated that:
“It’s not just a health and social problem. It’s everywhere. The whole system that we are still currently living in […] it’s out of date. Disabled people were not considered when it was being invented.”
The Manifesto includes practical solutions that would ensure that the UNCRDP is implemented in practice, including:
- Inclusion of the history of disabled people and the Social Model of Disability in the curriculum.
- Making Disability Equality Training mandatory at all levels of Government and public bodies.
- Support the establishment of a disabled people’s organisation in every local authority in Wales.
- Ensure the economic contract with employers and business in Wales incorporates enforceable measures to tackle the disability employment gap.
- Protect the rights of disabled people in the workplace through ensuring access to discrimination advice services.
Bring Us Our Rights: Disabled People’s Manifesto will be launched on Zoom on 3rd December, the International Day of Disabled People, at an event attended by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip Jane Hutt MS, Chairperson of the Cross Party Group on Disability Mark Isherwood MS and Jane Dodds former MP for Brecon and Radnor.
*ENDS*
