On the occasion of the European protest day to equality for people with disabilities, Christine Steger, lawyer for equal treatment issues for people with disabilities, warns against the announced austerity measures by the Federal Government in the area of inclusion. It sees it in the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, whose complete implementation in Austria continues to be pending.
“Especially with regard to the recommendations of the UN specialist committee from 2023, it is incomprehensible that cuts are now being discussed in the field of inclusion,” said Steger. Austria is obliged to advance the inclusion of people with disabilities and should not take responsibility, ”said Steger
Do not endanger professional participation
A special focus is on the professional participation: thanks to the reliable financing by the compensation stax fund, numerous projects and offers – including personal assistance in the workplace – have been successfully established in recent years. For many people with disabilities, these services are essential in order to be able to participate equally in labor and social life.
“If these offers are not secured in the long term, the loss of numerous jobs threatens,” warns Steger. “People with disabilities would be pushed out of the first labor market, at the same time, jobs in the social economy would also be at risk – with negative consequences for the entire economy.” In addition, workers are currently being sought in many industries. The necessary support for people with disabilities helps to counteract this work of work. Steger.
Warning of shifting and project stops
Steger clearly rejects shifts and cuts of existing projects. Pilot projects that have already been announced or started, such as the harmonization of personal assistance, including work models, the initiative Wages instead of pocket money In workshops as well as measures for deaf and hearing impaired people are central building blocks of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities. They would have to be continued and financed consistently.
“It may not be that participation is restricted in one area to implement in another improvements,” emphasizes Steger. “Such compromises undermine struggled progress.”
Obligation from the government program
Many of the projects mentioned are also part of the current government program. Steger calls on the Federal Government to take its international law obligations seriously and to fully ensure the financing of these measures.
In its final comments on the occasion of the last state examination of August 2023, the UN specialist committee also repeatedly refers to the responsibility of the federal states. Many benefits and legal provisions relevant to the inclusion of humans fall within their area of activity. The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is a total obligation. In addition to the federal government, this also affects all countries and communities.
“The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities is a common responsibility that the federal government must perceive together with the federal states,” concludes Steger. “Now is the time to set clear signs of real equality.”