Declaration

On the occasion of World Down Syndrome Day on the 21st March, we - members of the European Parliament and civil society - believe that the “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace”, founding principles of the European Union. We want to create an inclusive society where the Dignity and human rights of people with disabilities are cherished by all, protected by law and put into practice in concrete actions all over Europe.

As a member to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention), the EU and the Member States have a clear obligation to uphold the rights for all persons with disabilities enshrined in the Convention throughout the Union.

Persons with disabilities, including persons with intellectual disability, have the right to be fully included and to participate on an equal basis with others in society. Persons with disabilities and their representative organizations need to be consulted and involved in all decision making in the EU.

Persons with disabilities in the European Union are at high risk of social exclusion as their unemployment rates are double of citizens without disabilities and even four-times higher for people with intellectual disabilities.

We demand that the rights of people with disabilities and the Convention are mainstreamed in all European Union policies and programmes, including on health, employment and inclusive education.

We call on the European Institutions and the Member States to respect, protect and promote the individual autonomy of people with disabilities and intellectual disabilities, including the freedom to make one's own choices. We recall the importance of supporting autonomy rising projects like inclusive educational  programs,  independent  living  projects  as  well  as  health research programs with therapeutic goals.

Understanding the underrepresentation of people with disabilities on political institutions as well as on the media and the total political invisibility of people with intellectual disabilities, we will work to represent them to put their needs and their claims at the centre of the political agenda.