Event reports
France ratified the convention in early 2010. However, major shortcomings prevail in the implementation of equal rights for people with disabilities here. Free choice of residence, for example, or education facilities suitable for the disabled are unattained standards.
Bruno Gaurier is the adviser to the Executive Board of the French Council of Disabled for European Affairs. He wished for "an open door for inclusion and not just a glimpse through the keyhole." In his opinion, people with disabilities in France are often not treated as normal human beings but as "patients". Gaurier, who is himself deaf, admires the persistency of the disabled in France and the continuous efforts of the French associations that stand up for the interests of their members, he told the audience. It frustrates him to see that France lies behind neighbouring Germany in implementing the demands of the Convention.
"In Berlin, I saw a number of people using their wheelchairs independently in the metro. In France the elevators suitable for the disabled often don’t work or the keys that are need can’t be found", said Gaurier. However, he also mentioned advances, such as the new tram in Paris, which is fully accessible for handicapped. Nevertheless, in his opinion there is still a lot to do, especially considering labour market policies. The EU directive on equal treatment in employment and occupation was implemented into the French labour law in 2005. Since then, according to Gaurier, not much has changed. “In fact, the number of employed disabled has just slightly increased”, said Gaurier.
This issue challenges the U.S.A., too. Janet Lord, the director for human rights and inclusive development at BlueLaw International, reported that in the United States two thirds of the disabled adults are out of work. The major problem, in her eyes, is that governmental protection measures in the U.S. focus on civil liberties, that means people discriminated against by their origin or skin colour. In contrast, disabled people are often neglected. "From a global perspective, the U.S. is a role model regarding of anti-discrimination laws," said Lord. Nevertheless, there are shortcomings concerning the implementation of the CRPD. "There are big differences within the U.S. in the living and working conditions of disabled people. Also, the degree of social and cultural integration of the handicapped differs from state to state." said Lord, who is also professor at the University of Maryland. To harmonize the situation in the country, the American government would have to ratify the convention. However, until today nothing has happened.
Although the Obama administration declared its consent with the convention, none of the 67 senators has agreed to ratify the CRPD. "American politicians do not precisely know what measures would have to be taken and what would have to be changed in order to guarantee a public space suitable for handicapped people," explained Lord. The situation in France and in Germany is different. In Europe, one assumes that the full implementation of the measures need some time. In Germany and France, an accurate written record of the measures was not necessary to ratify the convention.
Despite the laws, an intolerable discrimination against people with disabilities prevails. In order to achieve the desired inclusion in all countries around the world it is necessary to have stricter inspections of the national directives.
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Please read the publication "Towards Inclusion" with further reports from other G20 countries. (In German language only)
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