Submitted by Louise on
Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of all UN Treaty Bodies and their follow-up procedures. This does not include the Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child which are available here: http://www.crin.org/resources/treaties/index.asp
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
CRPD/C/EU/CO/1
Last reported: 27 and 28 August 2015
Concluding observations issued: 4 September 2015
Issues raised:
Women with disabilities (art. 6): The Committee is concerned that the European Union has neither mainstreamed a disability perspective in all its gender policies, programs and strategies, nor adopted a gender perspective in its disability strategies. (para 20)
The Committee recommends that the European Union mainstream women and girls with disabilities’ perspective in its forthcoming Gender Equality Strategy, policies and programs, as well as a gender perspective in its disability strategies. It further recommends that the European Union develop affirmative actions to advance the rights of women and girls with disabilities, establish a mechanism to monitor progress, and fund data collection and research on women and girls with disabilities. It further recommends that the European Union accede to the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention as a step to combating violence against women and girls with disabilities. (para 21)
Children with disabilities (art. 7): The Committee is concerned about the number of boys and girls with disabilities living in institutions across the European Union who have no access to mainstream inclusive quality education. It furthermore notes with concern the adverse effect austerity measures have on availability of support services in local communities for families with children with disabilities, that disability strategies do not include children, and that the European Union Agenda for the Rights of the Child has expired. (para 22)
The Committee recommends that the European Union take necessary measures, including through the use of ESI Funds and other relevant European Union funds, develop support services in local communities for boys and girls with disabilities and their families, foster deinstitutionalisation and prevent any new institutionalisation, and promote social inclusion and access to mainstream inclusive quality education for boys and girls with disabilities. It further recommends that the renewed Agenda on the Rights of the Child include a comprehensive rights-based strategy for boys and girls with disabilities and safeguards to protect their rights. The Committee recommends that all disability strategies address and mainstream the rights of boys and girls with disabilities. (para 23)
The Committee is concerned at the lack of awareness regarding the rights of boys and girls with disabilities, that boys and girls with disabilities are not systematically involved in decisions that affect their lives and do not have the opportunity to express their opinion on those matters that affect them directly. (para 24)
The Committee recommends that the European Union ensure that boys and girls with disabilities and their representative organisations be consulted in all matters affecting them — with appropriate assistance provided, according to their disability and age. (para 25)
Freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse (art. 16): The Committee is concerned that persons with disabilities, especially women, girls and boys, and older persons with disabilities are subjected to violence, abuse and exploitation, especially in institutional settings. (para 44)
The Committee recommends that the European Union take necessary measures to mainstream disability in all legislation, policies and strategies for combatting violence, abuse and exploitation, and to provide effective protection from violence, abuse and exploitation to all persons with all types of disabilities inside and outside of the home. (para 45)
Respect for home and the family (art. 23): The Committee is concerned that austerity measures have resulted in cuts in social services and support to families and community-based services, among others, which restrict the right of persons with disabilities to family life and the right of children with disabilities to live in family settings. (para 56)
The Committee recommends that the European Union take measures to ensure that its economic and social policy and its recommendations promote support to families with persons with disabilities and ensure the right of children with disabilities to live in their communities. (para 57)
The Committee is concerned that the long awaited maternity leave directive has been withdrawn, and is further concerned that equal rights for women, for mothers, for fathers, and for children and adults with disabilities are not adequately addressed in European Union work and life-balance policy. (para 58)
The Committee recommends that the European Union ensure that people with disabilities and families of persons with disabilities be included in the newly announced roadmap "New start to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families”. (para 59)
Education (art. 24): The Committee is concerned that in different European Union Member States many boys and girls, and adults with disabilities cannot access inclusive quality education in line with the Convention. (para 60)
The Committee recommends that the European Union evaluate the current situation, and take measures to facilitate access to, and enjoyment of, inclusive quality education for all students with disabilities in line with the Convention, and include disability-specific indicators in the Europe 2020 Strategy when pursuing the target on education. (para 61)
D. EU Institutions compliance with the Convention (as public administrations)
Education (art. 24): The Committee is concerned that not all students with disabilities receive the reasonable accommodation they need to enjoy their right to inclusive quality education in European Schools in line with the Convention, and that the latter do not comply with the non-rejection clause. It is further concerned that European Schools are not fully accessible to children with disabilities nor do they provide for inclusive quality education. (para 84)
The Committee recommends that the European Union take necessary measures to ensure that all students with disabilities receive the reasonable accommodation they need to enjoy their right to inclusive quality education in European Schools. It recommends European Schools to implement a no-rejection policy based on disability and ensure quality inclusive education for all students with disabilities. (para 85)
