European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe
English
Governments
Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment
People with disabilities
Of an estimated 1 billion people with disabilities in the world today, some 785 million are of working age. While many are successfully employed and fully integrated into society, most face a disproportionate level of poverty and unemployment. This is a massive loss both to them and their countries. A strategy of including people with disabilities in training and employment promotion policies, combined with targeted supports to ensure their participation, can help disabled persons obtain productive mainstream employment.
National policies and initiatives
National legislation, policies and initiatives on the issue of training and skills development and the world of work.
The overall aim of this Strategy is to empower people with disabilities so that they can enjoy their full rights, and benefit fully from participating in society and in the European economy.
On 15 November 2010 the European Commission adopted a new strategy to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis.
The Strategy identifies eight main areas for action which have the potential to contribute to the overall objectives of the Strategy and of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): Accessibility, participation, equality, employment, education and training, social protection, health, and external action.
The Strategy aims to promote the rights of people with disabilities in their external action, including EU enlargement, neighbourhood and development programmes. The initial implementation plan identifies a series of actions for 2010-2015, which include, among others, supporting the national efforts of partner countries for the implementation of the UNCRPD, ensuring that EU development cooperation reaches persons with disabilities, consolidating the network of disability focal points in EU Delegations and Headquarters and increase the awareness of EU staff on disability matters.