One in four people with disabilities in the Netherlands feels they do not count in society. This comes from a study by the Netherlands Institute for Human Rights, which surveyed more than 1,800 people. The Institute also warns that many face financial pressure, with over a third reporting money worries.
This week marks ten years since the Netherlands signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The convention requires the government to ensure equal participation in society for people with disabilities. It covers access to education, employment, healthcare, public transport, social and cultural life, and digital services.
According to the Institute, equal participation is still far from guaranteed. Twenty‑seven per cent of people with disabilities say they face unequal opportunities in the labour market. Half take part in fewer social activities than they would like. A quarter cannot follow an education programme properly because institutions fail to make the necessary adjustments.
The Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says progress has been made, but the government is still falling short. “After ten years of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we see that the ambitions of the convention are still insufficiently visible in the daily lives of people with disabilities,” says Rick Lawson, Chair of the Council. He adds that the UN has also raised concerns, including the high risk of poverty among people with disabilities.
Because they do not receive equal opportunities in several areas of society, people with disabilities face financial insecurity more often. Many also worry about cuts to benefits and allowances, as well as rising healthcare costs. “For many people with disabilities, financial worries go beyond just a lack of income,” Lawson says.
@ANP | News Brainport
