Disability advocacy groups criticise Belgian inclusion policy at UN hearing

People with disabilities still have too little access to regular education and the regular labour market in Belgium, even though the country has promised in a UN treaty to better represent their interests, says advocacy group GRIP. The organisation hopes that new, clear UN guidelines will be a wake-up call for Belgian policymakers.

In Geneva this week, several representatives of Belgian advocacy organisations for people with disabilities will explain in a UN hearing how Belgium guarantees and improves the rights of people with disabilities. On Wednesday, they were already questioned on how they perceive inclusion and progress in the country. The organisations GRIP, Unia and the Belgian Disability Forum have long criticised the Belgian approach and are now voicing their criticism again in the context of the hearing.

GRIP mainly denounces the lack of inclusion. Persons with disabilities, they say, are still too little able to participate in the regular system but are instead accommodated in separate systems. The majority of children with disabilities, for example, are still referred to special education, instead of getting support in regular education. Persons with disabilities are also underrepresented in the regular labour market.

"Steps have been taken in recent years, but on a few very important points we really need to speak of human rights violations. Especially if policymakers have had 15 years to comply with this UN Convention," said Nadia Hadad, a board member of GRIP. Belgium and Flanders signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 2 July 2009, thereby committing to guarantee and strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities. The binding treaty should also lead to a more inclusive and equal society. 

Following the hearing, the UN committee will publish a report with recommendations in September. GRIP hopes it will be a wake-up call for policymakers in Belgium. According to the organisation, Belgium needs very clear guidelines so that the governments can draw up a strategic plan to make inclusion a reality across all sectors. 

^{#FlandersNewsService | The inclusive catering business of vzw Duinhelm, where people with disabilities are employed, in Oostende © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER}