Ahead of the EU Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth on 17 November in Gothenburg, the European Disability Forum (EDF) has adopted a resolution to promote employment and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in relation to the recommendations for a European Pillar of Social Rights (the Social Pillar) published by the European Commission in April 2017.
EDF’s resolution calls on Heads of States and Governments to demonstrate a strong commitment towards the right to employment, social inclusion and social protection of persons with disabilities and all people in the European Union.
In its resolution, EDF:
- reminds EU Member States of their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), as well as under the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
- calls for adequate financial resources to be allocated to promote better employment conditions and social protection for persons with disabilities;
- calls for the adoption of a strong directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Careers which recognizes both the perspective of carers of persons with disabilities and of parents with disabilities.
EDF and its members, including Autism-Europe, have been advocating to bring the messages of the resolution at the attention on Heads of States and Governments ahead of and during the Social Summit on the 17 November 2017 and during the Social Platform side event in Gothenburg on 16 November 2017.
In the same light, The European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community-based Care released in October 2017 seven recommendations to ensure that the Social Rights Pillar is an effective tool to enforce the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.