G7 members adopt new disability rights commitments

Ministers from the G7 countries dealing with disability and inclusion – including EU Commissioner Helene Dalli – adopted the Solfagnano Charter on Wednesday, committing to participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of social and political life.  

The text was endorsed during a ministerial meeting in Solfagnano, Italy, following the first G7-level discussion of challenges related to the rights of people with disabilities, and affirmed “unwavering commitment” to ensuring that all individuals enjoy equal rights to full, effective and meaningful participation and inclusion in all aspects of life.  

The new Solfagnano Charter outlines eight priorities for achieving full participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities, including autonomous and independent living, promotion of new technologies, and enhancement of talent and work inclusion. 

G7 members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States committed through the text to integrate accessibility requirements into relevant policy frameworks, not to treat the issue as an afterthought but rather “as a fundamental component of planning and development across all sectors”. 

“Our commitment is geared towards achieving and sustaining a radical shift of perspective that aims at eliminating the barriers caused by society and puts persons with disabilities at the centre of inclusion policies,” the text said. It also emphasised the need to maximise autonomy, independence, and the development of talents and skills, enabling each person to fulfil their aspirations and desires. 

The objective of this new charter is to make inclusion a priority on the political agenda of all countries, starting with the G7 members and later promoting the same approach at international level. The text committed to advancing discussions within the G20 and “all major relevant international fora.” 

This commitment is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) adopted in 2006 and ratified by 191 countries worldwide.  

Disability rights in the EU

This week the European Union also reinforced its commitment to ensuring cross-border mobility of people with disabilities through the formal adoption of the EU disability card.  

The EU-wide standardised card will allow people with disabilities to enjoy the same benefits and facilities in public and private services throughout Europe, ensuring equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and reserved parking spaces.  

However, the implementation timeline agreed upon by lawmakers has drawn criticism from civil society for being too lengthy. Member states will have 30 months to adapt and a further 12 months to implement the new rules, meaning that it will take almost three-and-a-half years for the card to emerge.  

The Council also adopted a directive extending these provisions to non-EU citizens legally resident in EU countries, who will also be able to use these cards during short stays in other member states.