Main achievements

Promoting and protecting human rights of persons with disabilities is central to the Council of Europe work and action to protect and promote the human rights of all citizens.

Based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European Convention on Human Rights and other legal standards, the Council of Europe endeavours to enhance equal opportunities, improve the quality of life and independence of people with disabilities, guarantee their freedom of choice, full citizenship and active participation in the life of the community

In this context, the Council of Europe:

• Adopted in 2016, the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023
• Organised in Copenhagen in 2017, a seminar on awareness raising for persons with disabilities in the framework of the Danish Chair of the Council of Europe
• Organised a UN side event in 2016 "Disability ≠ Inability” Equality and Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Enhancing Co-ordinated Response"

Focus

“Rights of persons with disabilities: A transversal issue that matters”

The Ad Hoc Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CAHDPH) was suspended as a result of the sustainable measures and adjustments to the Programme and Budget 2018-2019 adopted in April 2018. The Committee of Ministers decided that this area of work would be mainstreamed across the Organisation’s intergovernmental and co-operation activities, drawing also on any results from monitoring the Council of Europe Disability Strategy 2017-2023. The Strategy continues to be implemented, therefore, through this mainstreamed approach.