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Reply to Recommendation | Doc. 13874 | 23 September 2015
Equality and inclusion for people with disabilities
1. The Committee of
Ministers has carefully examined Parliamentary Assembly Recommendation 2064 (2015)
on “Equality and inclusion for people with disabilities”, which
it has communicated to the European Committee for Social Cohesion,
Human Dignity and Equality (CDDECS)/Committee of Experts on the
Rights of People with Disabilities (DECS-RPD) and the Council of
Europe Development Bank (CEB) for information and possible comments.
2. The Committee of Ministers underlines that equality and inclusion
of people with disabilities are the key messages of the Council
of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 as well as of the other
relevant recommendations of the Committee of Ministers to member
States, including Recommendations CM/Rec(2013)2 on ensuring full
inclusion of children and young persons with disabilities into society
and CM/Rec(2013)3 on ensuring full, equal and effective participation
of persons with disabilities in culture, sports, tourism and leisure
activities. Whilst stressing the significant progress made by member
States over the last decade, it would agree that a gap still remains
between international standards and practice.
3. In response to the specific issues raised in the recommendation,
the Committee of Ministers would inform the Assembly that an evaluation
of the Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 implementation
in member States is currently ongoing. The Committee values the
Parliamentary Assembly’s contribution to this work which aims to
determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Action Plan implementation
and provide a general overview of the present situation of people
with disabilities in Europe. It considers it relevant that a post-2015
Council of Europe disability framework be devised on the basis of
the results of the evaluation, to be focused on defined priorities
and areas where the Council of Europe can provide an added-value,
having in mind relevant international standards, notably the United
Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. It
has instructed the relevant intergovernmental committee to elaborate proposals
for such a five‑year framework post 2015. The process should take
place in close co-operation with various stakeholders, including
the United Nations, the European Union, and representative organisations
of people with disabilities and youth and youth NGOs as it considers
this both crucial and beneficial.
4. The results of the evaluation process will be presented and
discussed at the high-level closing conference of the Council of
Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 to be held in Dublin, Ireland
on 5 and 6 November 2015.
5. The Committee of Ministers would also stress the importance
of disability mainstreaming in all branches of authorities and areas
of life of society as set out in the Disability Action Plan. The
Committee of Ministers considers that the Council of Europe should
also endeavour to apply this approach in its activities, particularly in
those related to combating violence and hate speech, but not limited
to them. It is also important to address other issues such as discrimination
against persons with disabilities, for example in situations such
as when applying for work, education or housing, or those discriminated
on multiple grounds. In this respect, awareness-raising of individuals,
and with institutions such as ministries, schools, civil society
and labour organisations, is essential with a view to removing societal
barriers to the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
6. The Committee of Ministers notes the Parliamentary Assembly
recommendation calling for the Council of Europe Development Bank
(CEB) to ensure disability-inclusive project financing that corresponds
with the principles enshrined in the Disability Action Plan 2006-2015.
In this respect, the Committee of Ministers would recall that Parliamentary
Assembly Recommendation 1592 (2003) “Towards full social inclusion
of people with disabilities”, was taken into account during the
revision of the CEB fields of action and resulted in the introduction
of target groups to include other vulnerable populations, such as
people with disabilities. The CEB finances projects in favour of
people with disabilities across all four sectorial lines of action
and, in particular, in the sectors of ’Aid to refugees, migrants
and displaced persons’, ’Housing for low-income persons’, ’Health’ and
’Education and vocational training’.
7. The CEB Loan and Project Financing Policy requires that construction
projects, specifically for social housing, correspond to national
legislation. Furthermore, the CEB Handbook for the Preparation and Implementation
of Projects states that, “all CEB operations are granted in accordance
with specific technical and social development criteria and in strict
conformity with environmental, procurement and compliance guidelines
and policies,” and that access to persons with reduced mobility
is to be facilitated, especially for infrastructure projects related
to health and education. Finally, the Secretary General of the Council
of Europe issues an opinion on admissibility in terms of compliance
with the Council of Europe’s political and social objectives for
each project that the Bank submits to its Administrative Council
for approval. The admissibility opinion ensures that the project
objectives are in line with the rights set out in relevant Council
of Europe standards.