28 November 2006 - Government moves closer to achieving equality for disabled people
The Government is pushing forward its agenda to achieve equality for disabled people. The International Day of Disabled People on 3 December marks the start of a week of activities highlighting disability issues:
- Sunday 3 December - International Day of Disabled People
- Monday 4 December - the Disability Equality Duty (DED) becomes law
- Thursday 7 December - announcement of members of a new disability advisory body for government; Equality 2025
- Sunday 10 December - International Human Rights Day
- Monday 11 December - Government departments holding an event to promote awareness of the UN Convention of Disability Rights
Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, said:
“This week represents a huge step forward in achieving equal rights for disabled people.
It’s a well known fact that disabled people face many disadvantages. They are discriminated against in all walks of life, whether it is because they are unable to visit their local cinema or because they are unable to get a job with real career prospects.
“This is not acceptable. Together, we must work to eradicate prejudice and to create a society where everyone is treated equally.
“ With the new Disability Equality Duty, the public sector is taking the lead to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered at the outset of planning services, rather than as an afterthought.“However, it will take more than government legislation alone to achieve equality. Attitudes need to change to reflect the fact that disabled people are just as much a part of society as anyone else. “
Key dates during the week are:
Sunday 3 December - International Day of Disabled People. The day
aims to raise awareness of disabled people’s rights at national and international
levels. There are around 10 million disabled people in the UK including those
with limiting, longstanding conditions. Only 47.4% of disabled people of working
age are employed compared to 74.4% of non-disabled people. Despite the Government
doing much to improve the opportunities and experiences of disabled people
since 1997, disabled people are still more likely to live in poverty, to be
out of work, to have fewer educational qualifications and to experience prejudice
and abuse than non-disabled people. This is why the Government set up an Office
of Disability Issues in December 2005 (see further information re. the ODI
below).
Monday 4 December – the Disability Equality Duty (DED) becomes law. All major public sector organisations must have published a scheme which demonstrates how they are promoting equality for disabled people in everything they do. There are four key elements to the duty, which require organisations to:
- eliminate unlawful disability discrimination and disability-related harassment;
- promote equality of opportunity for disabled people
- promote positive attitudes; and
- encourage disabled people to take part in public life
Thursday 7 December – announcement of Equality 2025 members. Equality 2025 is the name of a new disability advisory body which will bring the voices of disabled people into the heart of policymaking. The new body’s name refers to the government’s aim to achieve equality for disabled people by 2025. Members will be announced by Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, at an Office for Disability Issues (ODI) event - ‘Making Equality a Reality’ - which also marks the first anniversary of the ODI. The ODI is the focal point within government to coordinate disability policy across all departments.
Sunday 10 December – International Human Rights Day (see below)
Monday 11 December – a joint event hosted by DWP, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development will promote awareness of the UN Convention on Disability Rights to mark International Human Rights Day.
Notes for editors
- The Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit report, Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People, published in January 2005, set out the Government’s strategy for disabled people. It included some sixty recommendations for improving disabled people’s lives, focusing on four key themes: early years, the transition from childhood into adulthood, employment and independent living. The Office for Disability Issues was launched in December 2005 to drive this strategy forward and report publicly on the progress being made.
- Interview opportunities are available with Anne McGuire and members of Equality 2025 on 7 December at the ODI event in London. If any journalists would like to attend they should contact press office. Names and biographies of the Equality 2025 members will be available from 12pm on 7 December via the website www.officefordisability.gov.uk
- A photograph of Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, with some members of Equality 2025 is available. Contact press office if you would like a jpeg.
- The Disability Equality Duty is part of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.
- A significant step forward in enabling disabled people across the world to enjoy full participation in society was achieved in August at the United Nations, when the text of a Human Rights Convention for disabled people was agreed. The UK played a positive role in the negotiations and should be amongst the first States to sign and ratify the Convention.
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