UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The ‘Shadow’ Report

1. UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The ‘Shadow’ Report What the convention is in brief Government’s initial report to the UN.

2. Aims UNCRPD (the Convention) http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml • Disabled people should have equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and prevent discriminationand promote equality and inclusion. • Ratified by UK Gov’ in June 2009 so Gov’ bound by the Convention’s terms. Gov to promote aims and consider the Convention when developing policies • Disabled people to be involved in policy making

3. 50 Articles, 30 layout disabled people’s rights on key areas, including: • Article 9 – Accessibility • Article 13 - Access to justice • Article 16 - Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse • Article 19 - Living independently and being included in the community • Article 24 – Education • Article 27 - Work and employment • Article 28 - Adequate standard of living and social protection • Article 29 - Participation in political and public lifeArticle 30 - Participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure and sport

4. Article 31-50 involve administration and implementation, which includes: • Each state appointing an independent mechanism to ‘promote, protect and monitor implementation’ of the Convention: UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission • All states to report every 4 years on measures being taken • Monitoring committee of 12-18 experts consider reports. Com give 2 yearly reports to Gen Assembly – next one Spring 2015

5. UK Government report http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/disabled-people-and-legislation/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-disabled-people/have-your-say.php • Submitted to UN in Nov 2011: Rosy picture? • Convention is ‘important and necessary statement’ - ‘aligned with UK approach of mainstreaming and inclusion’. • Article 19 Gov’ said it is increasing inclusion in the community – nothing on cuts to social care and support, (started in 2010). • Mentions Equality Act re tackling barriers but not Red Tape Challenge (April 2011) and Public Sector Equality Duties (PSED) not the review, (May 2012) • Mentions the Work Programme – not its 95% failure rate Lastly…

6. UK Government report http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/disabled-people-and-legislation/un-convention-on-the-rights-of-disabled-people/have-your-say.php • Article 28 - Adequate standard of living and social protection • Welfare Reform Act will ‘tackle entrenched poverty and end intergenerational worklessness’ – Impact of: Bedroom Tax/ Social housing size criteria, DLA abolished replaced by PIP -28% reduction in claimants, nothing about problems with WCA.

7. Shadow report • UN’s committee encourages Vol. groups to provide ‘parallel’ or ‘shadow reports’ to assist with scrutiny of Government. • The UN suggests parallel reports ‘should …. highlight key areas of concern and make concrete recommendations for change’ – opportunity to tell it how it is! • The Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance producing shadow report. The Alliance co-ordinating with DDPOs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland re their reports. • Clarifying how many reports from England.

8. Shadow report Concerns highlighted include: • Changes to legal aid and judicial review – Access to Justice • Cuts to care and support – Living independently and being included in the community • WCA/ESA – rights to Work and Employment • Impact of Bedroom Tax, loss of DLA, problems with WCAand Universal credit re Adequate stand of living and social protection • Attacks on inclusive education

9. Shadow report • Shadow report to be submitted in June 2014 • Events to publicise Shadow report! • Committee will report to UN Assembly next Spring 2015.