Council of Europe
As a member of RI the Federal Rehabilitation Council provides close connection with the European Council in Strasbourg and is one of the International Nongovernmental Organisations which support the decision making policies of the European Council.
The Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006 – 2015 was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 5 April 2006. It is addressed to the governments of all member states. The fundamental goal of the Action Plan was to help the member states to reinforce anti-discriminatory and human rights measures to enhance equal opportunities and independence of people living with disabilities and guarantee their freedom of choice, full citizenship, active participation in society and quality of life. It is also aimed at raising awareness about disability as part of human diversity.The Action Plan promotes the paradigm shifts from disability to ability and from patient to citizen. The Action Plan applies to every person with a disability, without any exception, and regardless of age, or the origin, nature or severity of the disability.
The Action Plan recommends specific actions in 15 key action lines, covering nearly all areas of life of people with disabilities, from participation in political and cultural life, education, vocational training and employment, accessibility, transport, information and communication, health care, rehabilitation, social and legal protection, community living, research or awareness-raising. The Action Plan also acknowledges that there are people with disabilities who face specific barriers or multiple discrimination, for example: women, children, elderly people, migrants with disabilities, persons with disabilities in need of a high level of support. The implementation of the Action Plan is primarily the responsibility of the member states, which should evaluate their existing disability policies against the blueprint of the Action Plan in order to identify areas in which progress still needs to be made and specific actions to be carried out.
Human rights: a reality for all
Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017 - 2023
The Council of Europe adopted its new Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2017-2023 on 30 November 2016.
Promoting and protecting human rights of all persons and upholding democracy and the respect of the rule of law is the core of Council of Europe work. The protection of rights, safeguarded and guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights, apply to all, including persons with disabilities.
Five priority areas identified in the Strategy:
- Equality and non-discrimination
- Awareness raising
- Accessibility
- Equal recognition before the law
- Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse.
The new Council of Europe Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2017 – 2023 was drafted over the past year by Council of Europe member States in co-operation with civil society including Rehabilitation International (RI) and other stakeholders.
Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015
Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023
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