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United Kingdom Disabled Peoples Council MANIFESTO 2010

United Kingdom Disabled Peoples Council
MANIFESTO 2010
This manifesto sets out the demands and important issues that United Kingdom's Disabled People's Council (UKDPC) see as essential for justice and rights for disabled people in 2010. These demands have been clearly articulated to us through contacts with our wide membership of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) and individual members.
Despite the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, The Life Chances Report 2005 and ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities in 2009, the reality of the lives of disabled people in the UK is still that of inequality, poverty, isolation, abuse and individual and institutional discrimination. In the last two decades we have made progress with good policies and laws. However, implementation and enforcement of those policies and laws is seriously flawed.
We believe that if the following demands are not met the United Kingdom will continue to renege its responsibilities to its disabled citizens. The order of these issues in no way denote importance. Like human rights themselves they are equal, indivisible and universal.
HUMAN RIGHTS
We demand that:
 The criminal justice system demonstrate, through appropriate judgements and sentencing, that regardless of impairment, or apparent severity of impairment, all disabled people must be regarded as full human beings with the same right to life, protection against violence and abuse, dignity and integrity as anyone else.
 Disability hate crime should be seen as a separate offence under the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Recognizing that this UN instrument was drawn up with the full involvement of disabled people and gives full guidance on how disabled people could receive their due recognition as full human beings,
we particularly demand:
 That the four reservations on immigration, inclusive education, employment in the armed forces and the regular review of measure to exercise mental capacity, that the UK Government tabled at ratification, are withdrawn. Also withdraw the alternative interpretation on education which states that special schools are part of mainstream education.
 That government meets its responsibilities to fully support the involvement of DPOs in all policies and programmes, in particular the monitoring process under Article 33.
THE STATUS OF DISABILITY ON POLITICAL AGENDA
We demand that:
 The Minister for Disabled People becomes – as the position always was – a Minister of State.
 The Office for Disability Issues has greater status and funding to match its importance as the guardian of the rights and equality of disabled people, with real powers for interdepartmental cohesion.
INDEPENDENT LIVING
We demand that:
 Assessment and funding for independent living are operated centrally and appropriately funded.
 Local authorities work with their local DPOs to ensure that the personalisation agenda is a reality.
 The recommendations in the report: “The Role of the Third Sector: Personalisation of Heath and Social Care and Services to Reduce Re-offending” are implemented.
 Disabled children and youth receive continuous support for independent living, including for their communication needs and inclusive education.
 In furtherance of Article 19 of the CRPD, no disabled person be placed in residential care except with their own explicit agreement.
VOICE AND CO-PRODUCTION
The views of carers, disability charities and other service providers are part of co-production, but it must be recognized that they have their own vested interests. Therefore we demand that:
 Government recognises the importance of representative voice of disabled people.
 Other members of the third sector work with us in co-production and as full allies to our objectives of equality, rights and justice for disabled people. Professionals should be a resource but Disabled People have the authority over our own lives.
 The voice of disabled people, through our own representative organizations must be in the lead and financially supported in all policies and programmes that directly affect us

Link: http://www.ukdpc.net/

Date posted: Tuesday, 6 July 2010