Disabled people increasingly shut out of society, says new human rights report
Credit sanjitbakshi, CC 2.0
New research has found disabled people are increasingly unable to live independently, as well as being “marginalised” from society.
The findings came ahead of the United Nations examination into the UK’s record on the rights of disabled people on 23rd and 24th August.
UKIM made up of the four UK Human Rights bodies, commissioned this new report which also says that “disabled people are losing support to enable them to take part in community life, go out to work and see friends and family.”
“Many disabled people who need support to live independently in the community are not getting it, or are only getting the bare minimum.”
Other areas for concern include:
- the overall impact of seven years of cuts to social security payments
- gaps in legal protection and barriers to accessing justice
- the continued use of physical and chemical restraint
- bullying of disabled children in schools
- the need for further action to tackle disability hate crime and harassment
Speaking on behalf of UKIM, the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission David Isaac said: “There is a real concern that disabled people are being increasingly marginalised and shut out of society as they bear the brunt of a series of decisions on public spending.
“Disabled people won hard fought battles in recent decades to ensure that they could live independently with choice and control over their support. Evidence of regression must be confronted and urgently addressed.
“As the UK government’s track record on disability rights comes under the international microscope, we want to see concerted action to remove the barriers in society that prevent disabled people living full lives on equal terms with non-disabled people.
“Everyone is entitled to the same opportunities and respect – the government must start taking its human rights obligations more seriously.”
You can read the full report here:https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/disability-rights-uk-updated-submission-un-committee-rights-persons
Image: sanjitbakshi, Flickr CC 2.0