Nothing about us without us

I received a letter from the National Commission Persons with Disability (KNPD) urging me, as a candidate standing for the European parliament elections, to make a strong commitment to ensure that Europe's 50 million disabled people can fully enjoy their social, economic and political rights.

Along with the letter, the KNPD sent a manifesto adopted by the European parliament of Disabled People for next June's elections.

I had read about this event but unfortunately the media exposure given to it was far from adequate and the proposals never made it through to the mainstream media.

I read the manifesto thoroughly and have decided to endorse it wholeheartedly.

Disability issues are issues for everyone and disabled persons are right in demanding that their voice be heard within the European parliament. This is why the representatives of disabled persons, who make up at least 10 per cent of the population of the new Europe, have asked us candidates to adopt a number of concrete commitments which are crucial to the respect of the human rights of disabled persons and to ensure equal opportunities for disabled persons in society.

There are five specific commitments which are being put forward by the representatives of disabled persons throughout Europe:

¤ Campaign for human rights legislation.

Candidates for the European parliament are being urged to adopt a horizontal anti-discrimination directive which removes barriers in all areas of European Union competence to enable disabled persons to achieve their full potential in life. Members are also urged to support and campaign for the adoption and improvement of such legislation on a national level and to support the immediate and full transposition at a national level of the framework directive on equal treatment in employment which prohibits all types of discrimination. Eventually, all this should become binding worldwide by means of a United Nations convention.

¤ Build a Europe for all.

Disability policy should be recognised across all areas of EU and national policy. EU funds should be aimed at supporting the introduction of accessibility criteria and the European parliament itself should set an example of good practice by providing sign language interpreters and ensure equal opportunities in employment.

¤ Demonstrate commitment to disability issues.

Candidates are being urged to endorse the Madrid Declaration and the Agenda 22 method for local community disability planning.

They are being urged to join the Disability Intergroup, which promotes disability policy within the European parliament and to consult disabled constituents and their representatives on a regular basis.

¤ Full and equal access to democracy.

Campaigns should be accessible to all voters with disabilities and should make it easier for disable persons to vote.

I reiterate my full support for this manifesto. One of the commitments I made at the beginning of my campaign was that to consult constituents on a regular basis by means of six-monthly public meetings in each electoral district. These meetings will be fully accessible to disabled persons and will include sign-language interpreters.

Furthermore, if elected, it is my intention to follow the KNPD's suggestion to join members from different political groupings within the Disability Intergroup in order to promote the interests of persons with disabilities and their families.

I feel it is my duty to make such commitments because, as the manifesto adopted by the European parliament of Disable People states, "Nothing about us without us".

Mr Muscat is a Labour candidate for the European parliament elections.

www.josephmuscat.com