FIMITIC

On 7 April 2006, the Committee of Ministers has adopted a recommendation addressed to all 46 member states on the Council of Europe's "Action Plan to promote the rights and full participation in society of people with disabilities : improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in Europe 2006-2015".
EDF, as active observer member within the CD-P-RR, the Council of Europe Committee on Rehabilitation and Integration of People with Disabilities (Partial Agreement), responsible for the drafting of the action plan, takes this opportunity to thank EDF member organizations for their active participation and commitment during the drafting process of the action plan.

The Council of Europe Disability Action Plan seeks to translate the aims of the Council of Europe with regard to human rights, non-discrimination, equal opportunities, full citizenship and participation of people with disabilities into a European policy framework on disability for the next decade. It promotes the paradigm shift from a health-related to a social and human rights-based approach to disability: from the patient to the citizen.

The Plan is intended to serve as a roadmap for policy makers, enabling the design, adjustment and implementation of appropriate programmes and innovative strategies. It has a broad scope covering all key areas for people with disabilities, reflected in 15 action lines including participation in political, public and cultural life, education, information and communication, employment, accessibility of the built environment and transport. It also draws attention to the needs of women and children with disabilities and severely disabled people in need of a high level of support.

The Disability Action Plan promotes the essential concept that disabled people and their representatives need to be consulted as stakeholders in decision-making processes which affect their lives. In this respect, the Committee of Ministers clearly recommends that governments co-operate with civil society, involving, in particular, NGOs of people with disabilities.

The Council of Europe Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 will be launched in September 2006 at a European Conference in St. Petersburg, organised under the aegis of the Russian Federation Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers, in co-operation with the Nordic Council of Ministers under its Norwegian Chairmanship.

The full text of the Recommendation (2006)5 is available on http://www.coe.int, under "Committee of Ministers" / "Adopted texts"

Source : Council of Europe Press Release