Disability Rights and EU Policy Framework

This technical report outlines the European Union's disability rights framework and its commitment to the inclusion of persons with disabilities. It begins by presenting statistics from the World Health Organization, indicating that 15% of the global population lives with some form of disability, which translates to approximately 80 million citizens within the EU. The report details the EU's disability policy, emphasizing principles such as non-discrimination and equal treatment, as guided by the European Disability Strategy and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It discusses various initiatives aimed at combating discrimination and enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The report also highlights the intersectional challenges faced by women with disabilities and the barriers to cultural participation for people in rural areas. Furthermore, it mentions the legislative measures introduced to support these initiatives and the ongoing efforts to update the European disability rights strategy for the upcoming years.