Contribution of organisations representing people with intellectual disabilities to the CRPD Committee evaluation of Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, and Ukraine.
Participation of people with intellectual disabilities is crucial in monitoring how their rights are respected. It challenges countries to ensures full rights and inclusion.
The CRPD Committee reviewed 4 European countries during its session in August and September this year: Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, and Ukraine.
Organisations representing people with intellectual disabilities contributed to this review.
- LEV from Denmar, in a coalition coordinated by Disabled Persons Organisations Denmark,
- Inclusion ASBL from Belgium, in a coalition coordinated by the Belgian Disability Forum
They contributed to alternative reports presented before the Committee. They also attended the hearings in Geneva, Switzerland.
Denmark
For Denmark, the Committee expresses concern about the lack of a comprehensive action plan to ensure disability rights.
Denmark has not incorporated the CRPD into its legal system, making it difficult to enforce it in courts.
The Committee also noted lack of progress on ensuring the right to legal capacity.
- See also: Inclusion indicators – legal capacity can be fully removed in Denmark, and people with intellectual disabilities can be denied the right to vote or stand for elections.
Belgium
Belgium has the highest percentage of children in segregated schools, and one of the largest employment gaps between disabled and non-disabled people in the EU.
The Committee also highlights the lack of funding for personal assistance resulting in long waiting periods.
In practice, substitute decision-making is still frequently used, despite new law regarding legal capacity.
- See also: Inclusion indicators for Belgium
Netherlands
Netherlands has not ratified the CRPD Optional Protocol, which limits the government’s accountability to disabled people organisations and individuals seeking justice.
Other issues include:
- continued institutionalisation of adults and children with intellectual disabilities,
- reports of violence and abuse in these institutions,
- inadequate responses to violence against women with disabilities, police abuses towards persons with disabilities,
- dual school systems which segregate children with disabilities from their non-disabled peers.
- See also: Inclusion indicators for Netherlands
Ukraine
The Committee addresses the ongoing Russian war, focusing on Article 11 of the CRPD, and the State’s ability to provide humanitarian aid, protection, and safety for people with disabilities.
Concerns include:
- lack of accessibility to basic services,
- lack of assistance for displaced persons with disabilities including children,
- institutionalisation of large number of people with disabilities.
Organisations representing Ukrainians with disabilities called for participation in security-related decision-making, such as evacuation plans, accessible emergency warnings etc.
- See also: Inclusion indicators for Ukraine
What is the CRPD?
UN CRPD is short for “the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities”.
The UN CRPD is an important text. It tries to make sure that the rights of people with disabilities are respected.
Watch easty-to-understand videos about the CRPD and the Committee.
You can also read a summary of the CRPD evaluation by EDF.