R12: The Right for Independent Living all over Europe now!

People with disabilities, just like everybody else, have the right to choose where, under what circumstances and with whom they want to live. They are entitled to receive the necessary support to participate on an equal footing with other citizens in society. This is called the ‘Independent Living’ principle which encompasses all spheres of life. The idea behind Independent Living is also one of the core elements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and has been ratified by many European countries. However, European countries and the European Union are far from making the proclaimed rights of the Convention a reality.

The New EU Disability Strategy 21-30 clearly states the need to develop independent living and reinforcing community-based services, promising that the Commission will support national, regional and local authorities in their efforts for deinstitutionalisation and independent living, including through the 2021-2027 shared management funds, the Renovation Wave, the Renovation Component of the Recovery and Resilience Plans, and the Technical Support Instrument.

People with disabilities, just like everybody else, have the right to choose where, under what circumstances, and with whom they want to live. They are entitled to receive the necessary support to participate on an equal footing with other citizens in society. This is called the ‘Independent Living’ principle which encompasses all spheres of life. The idea behind Independent Living is also one of the core elements of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which was adopted by the United Nations in 2006 and has been ratified by many European countries. However, European countries and the European Union are far from making the proclaimed rights of the Convention a reality.

The EU has yet to align the 1976 Electoral Law with the UNCRPD, Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is also the case for many countries in the rest of Europe where accessibility barriers remain and millions of people with disabilities are being prevented from participating in elections and from becoming a candidate for office. Likewise, democratic exercises, such as the Conference on the Future of Europe, remain inaccessible to people with disabilities.

National andAll European institutions should commit to supporting the fight for the rightfundamental rights of disabled people to be able to live a life wherein which they can exercise political rightspersonal autonomy and freedom of movement, but which also extends toagency in both the private sphere and the rights to own body as more peoplepublic spheres. People with a disability arehave an increased likelihood of being subjected to violence, sexual harassment or to, forced sterilisation[1]sterilisation[1] and cannot exercise the right to marry. Ensuring political rights, the rights to their own body and freedom of movement equal to the rest of the population is necessary to combat the issue."[1]

According to a recent survey, EU funds have been used to build up group homes in many EU Member States[2].The mainstream approach is to organise the lives of people with disabilities around institutions and there is no real motivation to outline plans for deinstitutionalisation. Yet many institutions for people with disabilities are like cages with invisible bars. Thus, it is time to shift to the perspective of people with disabilities themselves as regards their own lives. Progressing from segregation to an inclusive society mustshould be a political prioritygoal for all EGP member parties, and the prioritization and consideration of the perspectives as well as the lived experiences of the affected people is long overdue. It is their life after all. As a solution to the way forward, we the European Greens see de-institutionalisation as the key element for the emancipation of people with disabilities[3].

The ideal of Independent Living goes much further than housing issues, however. One key aspect is the possibility to participate in the general labour market. Hence, the working environments of people with disabilities should also be de-institutionalised. In particular, since disabled people are notoriously underemployed, there is an urgent need for supporting schemes to make workplaces and social protection frameworks accessible for all, including unemployment benefits orand sick leave as well as sick pay. These social investments generate fair chances for societal inclusion for people with disabilities. In general, legal frameworks must not support institutions over independent living, inclusive learning and working in the general labour market.

The ideal of Independent Living goes much further than housing issues, however. One key aspect is the possibility to participate in the general labour market. Hence, the working environments of people with disabilities should also be de-institutionalised. In particular, since disabled people are notoriously underemployed, there is an urgent need for supporting schemes to make workplaces and social protection frameworks accessible for all, including unemployment benefits or sick leave. Further, international and national institutions must improve the quality of the jobs of people with disabilities due to the fact that this group only has access to precarious jobs. For that reason, employment for people with disabilities should be durable on the time, with enough compensation to have an independent life, and with the same rights and benefits as all worker people. These social investments generate fair chances for societal inclusion for people with disabilities. In general, legal frameworks must not support institutions over independent living, inclusive learning and working in the general labour market.

TheHowever, the ideal of Independent Living goes much further than housing issues, however.. One key aspect is the possibility to participate in the general labour market. Hence, the working environments of people with disabilities should also be de-institutionalised. In particular, since disabled people are notoriously underemployed, there is an urgent need for supporting schemes to make workplaces and social protection frameworks accessible for all, including unemployment benefits or sick leave. These social investments generate fair chances for societal inclusion for people with disabilities. In general, legal frameworks must not support institutions over independent living, inclusive learning and working in the general labour market.

The ideal of Independent Living goes much further than housing issues, however. One key aspect is the possibility to participate in the general labour market. Hence, the working environments of people with disabilities should also be de-institutionalised. In particular, since disabled people are notoriously underemployed, there is an urgent need for supporting schemes to make workplaces and social protection frameworks accessible for all, including unemployment benefits or sick leave. As disabled people are at heightened risk of poverty, the EU and national governments must implement income policies to guarantee a living income for all and ensure effective equality of opportunity in education, training and employment. These social investments generate fair chances for societal inclusion for people with disabilities. In general, legal frameworks must not support institutions over independent living, inclusive learning and working in the general labour market.