Human rights NGOs tackle France’s inaction towards rights of disabled people

Human rights NGOs denounced on Wednesday (17 April) the French government’s failure to ensure the rights of people with disabilities are respected, one year after the Council of Europe issued their reprimands. 

In a note issued exactly one year ago, on  17 April 2023, the Council of Europe criticised France for violating the rights of people with disabilities. 

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), an organisation of the Council of Europe, stated that “the freedom and dignity of people with disabilities are being hampered” in France in many areas. 

French President Emmanuel Macron reacted a few days later, at the 6th National Disability Conference (CNH), by making several announcements. 

The government’s priorities included accessibility, education, employment, and financial aid. Full reimbursement of wheelchairs was also on the agenda. 

“Our aim is to propose a paradigm shift that meets the expectations of people with disabilities,” said the former Minister Delegate for Disability, Geneviève Darrieussecq, at the opening of the CNH.

However, one year on, the situation has not improved, according to disability associations including Unapei, APF France handicap, Union Nationale De Familles Et Amis De Personnes Malades Et/Ou Handicapées Psychiques (UNAFAM), and the European Disability Forum.

In a joint press release these organisations expressed their concerns stating, “It has to be said that the rights of people with disabilities and their families are still not being respected.” 

A “scandalous” wait-and-see attitude

The associations are denouncing a “wait-and-see attitude” on the part of the public authorities, which they regard as “scandalous”, and are calling for the promises made at the CNH in 2023 to be kept. 

Although Emmanuel Macron promised to allocate €1.5 billion to accessibility, buildings, transport, and administrative procedures, these are still often inaccessible. 

“The €1.5 billion for accessibility now appears not only uncertain because of budget cuts but also insufficient,” reads the press release, which points out that nine out of 10 people with disabilities experience accessibility difficulties when travelling. 

The associations also stress the difficulty of access to healthcare for disabled people and their families, notably due to a lack of professionals, a lack of beds in hospitals, and long waiting times for medical appointments.

According to the NGOs’ data, 83% of people with disabilities say they have had problems accessing care, with 46% experiencing major or extreme difficulties. 

“In France, difficulties in accessing healthcare and medical and paramedical professionals are multiplying, and people with disabilities are overexposed to them. Yet the entire healthcare system should be accessible,” said Marie-Jeanne Richard, head of UNAFAM.

A year after the criticism by the Council of Europe and in the run-up to the European elections from 6 to 9 June, the shortcomings remain. 

“How long will people with disabilities and their families have to make up for the State’s shortcomings, accept deteriorating living conditions, and be excluded from society?,” ask the NGOs. 

[Edited by Rajnish Singh]

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