It’s time for the renewed commitment to protect the rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities

Mental Health Europe calls on the European Commission to adopt a comprehensive post-2020 European Disability Strategy to further mainstream disability in EU policy

Brussels, 28 November 2019 – Thursday, 28^th November marks the beginning of the annual European day of persons with disabilities conference, organised by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Disability Forum (EDF).

This year’s conference is an important moment to take stock of the progress made in disability policy through the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 (the Strategy). The Strategy is the main instrument for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), ratified by the European Union (EU) and all its Member States.

Having worked on the implementation of the Strategy since its beginning, Mental Health Europe will speak on behalf of persons with psychosocial disabilities at the conference panel What for you expect from the EU for the next decade in the disability area? and share its views on the implementation and monitoring of the UN CRPD in Europe in the next years.

For the occasion, MHE updated its review of the implementation of the UN CRPD Committee’s Concluding Observations (COs) that the EU received in 2015. The COs provide valuable guidance for the EU in the implementation of the UN CRPD. Our analysis reveals that, while some progress has been made, the implementation of the UN CRPD is far from being completed, particularly from the perspective of persons with psychosocial disabilities.

MHE welcomes current achievements and sees the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 as an important opportunity to draw on the lessons learned when developing future disability policy.

MHE calls on the European Commission to renew its commitments to the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, including people with psychosocial disabilities, by adopting a comprehensive post-2020 European Disability Strategy.

The new Strategy should:

• Have comprehensive objectives with clear benchmarks and indicators, as well as an adequate budget allocated for its implementation;
• Foresee the establishment of disability focal points in all relevant Directorates of the European Commission and relevant EU institutions and agencies, along with an interinstitutional coordination mechanism;
• Include a plan for the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the UN CRPD;
• Fully integrate and create synergies with the latest policy, legislative and governance frameworks, such as the European Semester, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals;
• Cover all the provisions of the UN CRPD, address the 2015 Concluding Observations of the UN CRPD Committee as well as the Concluding Observations that the EU will receive after its second review;
• Have an area dedicated to autonomy and better adapt to emerging policy areas, including migration and mental health of migrants.

More information on MHE’s assessment of the 2010-2020 European Disability Strategy can be found here.