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@myedf.bsky.social

Other topics included:
- EU recognising national sign languages.
- Access to Justice
- Political participation
- Access to health
- ERASMUS+
- Personal assistants
- Information in accessible formats

2/2 #CRPDnow

Card with list of points discussed in the review of the EU:
- EU law must guarantee procedural accommodation in access to justice.
- Need for more action to ensure the right of persons with disabilities to political participation.
- Ensuring accessibility and the specific needs of persons with disabilities related to health.
- Access of women and girls with disabilities to sexual and reproductive rights.
- Need to recognise national sign languages.
- Better inclusion of persons with disabilities in ERASMUS+.
- Need to strengthen the framework of personal assistants.
- Recognising the need to provide information on accessible formats

March 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The Public session of the UN #DisabilityRights Committee review of the EU ended.
Conclusions released in April.

Yesterday's highlights:
- EU Funds
- #EndForcedSterilisation
- Law on cross-border protection of adults violates the Convention.
- Support to staff with disabilities.

#CRPDnow 1/2

List of 7 highlights from 12 March session of UN Disability Rights review of the EU:
1. EU Funds must better support the rights of persons with disabilities.
2. Commission must monitor use of EU funds and stop them from funding segregating institutions.
3. Proposed legislation on cross border protection of adults violates the Convention.
4. The Commission must act to ban forced sterilisation throughout the EU.
5. Public procurement should not support sheltered employment.
6. The EU must enact more actions to guarantee freedom of movement - beyond the European Disability Card.
7. EU Institutions need to improve processes to support staff with disabilities.

March 13, 2025 at 9:34 AM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The #CPRD wonders why the regulation of cross-border protection of adults still takes a paternalistic view of protection and support in contradiction with the Convention.

We argue the same in our campaign: www.edf-feph.org/protection-o...

#CRPDnow

Quote by expert Markus Schefer: “(referring to Regulation governing cross-border of adults) both these instruments stand in stark contrast to Article 12.”

“Why the EU is continuing to promote substitute decision-making mechanisms, that (...) take over ideas of paternalism...”

March 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

Committee expert Laverne Jacobs relays complaints the Committee has heard regarding conditions for candidates and staff with disabilities in EU Institutions.

Read our press release on it: www.edf-feph.org/eu-instituti...

#CRPDnow

Card with quote by Laverne Jacobs "“We have heard (...) there are inadequate accomodations or no accomodations.”

Additional text: Committee expert interrogates EU Institutions on conditions for candidates and staff with disabilities.

March 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The Committee is baffled that there is no EU-wide ban on forced sterilisation.

#EndForcedSterilisation: www.edf-feph.org/end-forced-s...

#CRPDnow

Quote from committe expert Markus Schefer: “The Directive on combating violence against women does not criminalise forced sterilisation. “

“Can the delegation explain why this is the case?”

March 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

On access to justice, expert Markus Schefer focus on the need to ensure EU law ensures procedural accommodation.

#CRPDnow

Quote card on Procedural accomodation omitted from EU laws and policies

“Why is that? Is of such central importance.”
Markus Schefer, Committee expert

March 12, 2025 at 2:34 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

UN expert Markus Schefer highlights that - in 13 EU countries - more adults with disabilities live segregated in residential institutions now than 10 years ago.

He asks how is the Commission guaranteeing that EU funds are not be used to fund them.

#CRPDnow

Quote from Committee expert Markus Schefer Markus Schefer "“It’s Member states monitoring their adherence to the CRPD (when using EU Funds). Not a method that seems particularly effective.”

Added: UN expert condemns legal guidance permitting using of EU funds to supprot segregating institutions.

March 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

Follow the second and last day of the "Public dialogue": webtv.un.org/en/asset/k17...

3/3 #CRPDnow

772nd Meeting, 32nd Session, Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Consideration of the European Union (cont'd)

webtv.un.org

March 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

Specific topics addressed also included:
- data collection, accessibility, development aid.
- accessibility of European emergecy number 112.
- how humanitarian and development funding comply with the Convention.
- funding and involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities.

2/3 #CRPDnow

A visual with topics addressed on the UN review of the EU on 11 March:
- Focus on more efforts on data collection, accessibility, development aid.
- Need to ensure accessibility of European emergecy number 112.
- Questions on how humanitarian and development funding comply with the Convention.
- Funding and involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities.

March 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

Highlights of the first day of UN experts' review of EU's work on Convention on #DisabilityRights:
- Need to update #DisabilityRights Strategy
- #EqualTreatment Directive must not be dropped
- Better monitoring
- thorough review of EU law
- Address issues of women with disabilities
1/3
#CRPDnow

A visual with a list of what happened on the UN review of the EU on 11 March:
1. Committee asked for update to Disability Rights Strategy with new legislation and policies.
2. The intention to withdraw the Equal Treatment Directive is a big concern.
3. Existing mechanisms to monitor the Convention fall short of expectations.
4. The EU does not sufficiently address the issues of women with disabilities.
5. The Committee denounced the lower hierarchy of the Convention in EU law.
6. EU needs to undertake thorough investigation of EU law’s compliance with Convention.
7. EU must do more to oppose forced treatment and coercion. It must oppose draft Additional Protocol to the Oviedo Convention.

March 12, 2025 at 8:41 AM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

United Nations Committee quizzes @ec.europa.eu's baffling decision to intend to withdraw the #Equal Treatment Directive.

Read our joint statement: www.edf-feph.org/publications...

#CRPDnow

Quote: “I am somewhat worried about the fate of the Equal Treatment Directive.”

UN expert worried about Commission’s intention to withdraw Equal Treatment Directive.

March 11, 2025 at 3:07 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

Markus Schefer, the expert states that new legislation proposed is not in line with the Convention.

He gives two examples:
- Legislation on cross-border protection of adults.
- The Artificial Intelligence Act

#CRPDnow

Quote Card with black and white photo of Markus Scher, Committeee expert: “I am not entirely certain that the processes are in place to ensure that new legislation is in conformity with the Convention.”

March 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The @ec.europa.eu states that there is efforts to ensure that "new types of legislation or legislation that is being revised" comply with the Convetion.

The rapporteur from the Committee points that a "Thorough investigation into EU legislation over the years would have been needed"

#CRPDnow

March 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The Committee seeks to understand if the European Union considers the Convention, and the Committee's interpretation, as authoritative in primary and "secondary law".

Commission: while Convention must be respected, it's article are not sufficiently precise to ensure it.

#CRPDnow

March 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The @ombudsman.europa.eu, in their statement, underlines that the Commission should "take a more proactive approach to enforcement” of stopping EU funds from financing segregating institutions.

#CRPDnow

Breaking from EU review. Quote card: “The Commission should take a more proactive approach to enforcement” of stopping EU funds from financing segregating institutions. by European Ombudsman

March 11, 2025 at 2:29 PM

European Disability Forum

@myedf.bsky.social

The @ec.europa.eu starts by listing past achievements, including:
1️⃣#AccessibilityAct
2️⃣#EUDisabilityCard
3️⃣Guidance on Independent Living
4️⃣Accession to #IstanbulConvention
5️⃣Disability employment package

They state disability coordinators in each service have been appointed.

#CRPDnow

March 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM