Council of Europe's policy towards disabled persons

 

Doc. 7604

28 June 1996

 

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

presented by Mrs BELOHORSK� and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.         In 1981, the Parliamentary Assembly adopted Recommendation 925 (1981) on the Council of Europe's contribution to the International Year for Disabled Persons.

2.         In that recommendation the Assembly called on the Committee of Ministers inter alia to request the Secretary General to eliminate the existing architectural obstacles in order to facilitate access by physically disabled persons to the Palais de l'Europe, including the Assembly Chamber, as well as to improve the Council of Europe recruitment policy as regards the disabled and to report back to the Assembly.

3.         In its reply to Recommendation 925 (1981), the Committee of Ministers lists the different architectural measures that were already in place at that time. Fifteen years have passed since then and it is clear that further measures need to be taken.

4.         As regards the recruitment of disabled persons the Committee of Ministers replied that the Staff Regulations do not contain any provisions preventing the employment of the disabled.

5.         The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

            i. request the Secretary General to re-examine the architectural obstacles to disabled persons in all the Council of Europe installations (old and new);

            ii. take measures to encourage application by disabled persons to posts that could be suitable for them;

            iii. create special structures, within the Administration, to better adapt the Council of Europe's policies vis-�-vis disabled persons.

Signed[1]:

Belohorsk�, Slovakia, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Jacquat, France, LDR

Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR

Luhtanen, Finland, SOC

Mackie of Benshie, United Kingdom, LDR

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

Mart�nez, Spain, SOC

Nestor, Estonia, SOC

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Solonari, Moldova, SOC

Thoreson, Norway, SOC

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[1]        SOC : Socialist Group

            EPP : Group of the European People's Party

            EDG : European Democratic Group

            LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

            UEL : Group of the Unified European Left