PODI · Realizing the political rights of persons with disabilities

Realizing the political rights of persons with disabilities

What was the issue being addressed? Realizing the political rights of persons with disabilities (PODI) has examined these political rights and focused on the political participation of civil society organisations. Taking as its point of departure the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, PODI has examined under which conditions disabled people's organisations are most likely to achieve political voice and influence on decision-making processes of importance for their own lives and for society as a whole, including examples of promising practice. Why is it important for society? The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) requires Member States’ governments, and the EU, to ‘closely consult with and actively involve persons with disabilities’, notably ‘through their representative organizations’. This includes legislative consultation, opportunities for political participation, and full involvement in rights monitoring systems. The UN has expressed concern about shortcomings in the involvement of disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) both at the national level and in the EU. To overcome the shortcomings and enable monitoring of progress in the involvement of DPOs, the UN has recommended developing a human rights based indicators system. PODI has produced new knowledge to help make this a reality. What have been the overall objectives? PODI has launched the first cross-national and multilevel study of disability movements in Europe, beginning with in-depth data from four European countries (UK, Norway, Germany and Italy), and from EU and UN institutions. It has identified facilitators and barriers to implementation, and identified the need for indicators that will aid the EU and European governments in monitoring their fulfilment of the UNCRPD. PODI has: 1. compared forms of self-organisation among persons with disabilities in four European countries – including people with mobility, visual, psychosocial (mental health) and cognitive impairments. 2. defined the mechanisms of consultation, mobilisation and collective voice by which disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have been represented and engaged in political participation. 3. indicated the conditions under which DPOs are most likely to achieve voice and influence in decision-making processes, including examples of promising practice. 4. established a framework for future international comparative research concerning DPOs and disability movements.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз