A new development framework for the EU - How inclusive is it?
The new EU Development Strategy - adopted in May 2012 - does not include specific references to the rights of persons with disabilities, but offers entry points for an inclusive EU development cooperation.
On 14 May 2012, EU Development Ministers gathered in Brussels to finalise the so called Agenda for Change, a new EU Development strategy. Ministers based their decisions on a Communication proposed by the European Commission (EC) in October last year.
In their decisions, EU Development Ministers endorsed the general direction as outlined in the Commission's proposal. According to the Agenda for Change, the EU will focus its development work on the creation of 'inclusive growth'. Moreover, a strong emphasis should be placed on human rights and governance.
In their decisions, EU Development Ministers endorsed the general direction as outlined in the Commission's proposal. According to the Agenda for Change, the EU will focus its development work on the creation of 'inclusive growth'. Moreover, a strong emphasis should be placed on human rights and governance.
Our work on the Agenda for Change
In partnership with the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) and supported by the European Disability Forum (EDF) the CBM EU Liaison Office has been advocating for a specific reference to the rights of persons with disabilities in the Agenda for Change.
Our proposed amendment aimed at reflecting the new reality of the EU as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To gain support for such a specific reference to persons with disabilities, a number of advocacy letters were sent to decision-makers, and a number of bilateral meetings were held both at national level and at European level.
Our proposed amendment aimed at reflecting the new reality of the EU as a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To gain support for such a specific reference to persons with disabilities, a number of advocacy letters were sent to decision-makers, and a number of bilateral meetings were held both at national level and at European level.
Results of our work
Despite these advocacy efforts, the final outcome of the Agenda for Change does not contain a specific reference to the rights of persons with disabilities. It does, however, include a new paragraph referring to a rights-based approach as well as to vulnerable groups.
It reads: "EU support to governance should feature more prominently in all partnerships. This calls for a rights-based approach, promoting in particular the right to universal and non-discriminatory access to basic services, participation in democratic political processes, transparency and accountability, justice and the rule of law, and with a focus on poor and vulnerable groups."
This new element was added as a result of our request to address the rights of persons with disabilities explicitly.
It reads: "EU support to governance should feature more prominently in all partnerships. This calls for a rights-based approach, promoting in particular the right to universal and non-discriminatory access to basic services, participation in democratic political processes, transparency and accountability, justice and the rule of law, and with a focus on poor and vulnerable groups."
This new element was added as a result of our request to address the rights of persons with disabilities explicitly.
The way forward
How inclusive of the rights of persons with disabilities the Agenda for Change really is, greatly depends on its implementation. Due to the focus on human rights as well as on inclusive growth, there is potential to address the rights of persons with disabilities under the Agenda for Change. At the same time, this potential now needs to be exploited. This will only be possible if the rights of persons with disabilities are adequately addressed in future EU development policies, policies that translate the Agenda for Change into concrete actions.
In that context, it is of greatest importance for the EU to give itself a disability-inclusive 7-year budgetary framework. Negotiations to draft this framework are currently under way. CBM will make inputs into those crucial discussions so that persons with disabilities can move up higher the EU's development agenda in the future.
In that context, it is of greatest importance for the EU to give itself a disability-inclusive 7-year budgetary framework. Negotiations to draft this framework are currently under way. CBM will make inputs into those crucial discussions so that persons with disabilities can move up higher the EU's development agenda in the future.
