Liberal Democrats call on Government to take “immediate steps” to restore the rights of the deaf and disabled
The Liberal Democrats have called upon the UK Government to urgently review its policies in regards to persons with disabilities and for them to take immediate steps to remedy failures highlighted by the United Nations Committee in August.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) Committee found that the UK Government’s cuts to social security and other support for deaf and disabled people had caused “a human catastrophe” which was “totally neglecting the vulnerable situation that people with disabilities find themselves in”
The Lib Dems also noted that, with the Government’s refusal to properly implement recommendations made by the UN CRPD Committee in 2016, they had committed “grave, systematic violations of the rights of person with disabilities”.
A motion passed today at the Lib Dem’s Autumn conference in Bournemouth safeguards the party’s commitment to incorporate the UNCRPD into UK Law should they succeed the current Conservative Government. Sal Brinton, Lib Dem Party President said that this strengthening of the Equality Act “reaffirms the Liberal Democrats commitment to continue to work with deaf and disabled to ensure they have a strong voice at the heart of democracy. The Conservative Government's callous treatment of those with disabilities reveals their true colours, but the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for those who are sometimes the most vulnerable in our society”
David Buxton, Disability Campaigner and former BDA Director of Campaigns and Communications, added: “This motion sets out our party’s future direction on deaf and disability issues. We have a huge role to play to ensure the Liberal Democrats are a party that makes the UK a more inclusive and accessible society through the adoption of Sign Language rights and access rights, and by incorporating UN CRPD articles into UK law.”
