UK failing to protect disabled people, says equalities watchdog
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has warned of the consequences of “continuing inaction” from governments in addressing problems faced by disabled people.
In a report submitted to the United Nations, the EHRC found that disabled people often face long wait times between applying for and receiving benefits, and they are more likely to use food banks than non-disabled people.
The EHRC warns that many disabled people continue to face discrimination in the UK, and the situation “continues to worsen” in light of cost-of-living pressures.
The report follows a 2016 UN inquiry into the state of rights for disabled people in the UK, after which the UN published a list of 11 recommendations for the UK government to protect the rights of disabled people. The latest report assesses the extent to which the previous UN recommendations have been implemented.
“It shows that, despite limited or some progress in certain areas, we are disappointed to see no progress against some other recommendations. While commitments to address some issues have been made, actions have been delayed or don’t go far enough”, said the EHRC.
The report concludes that as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, many of the recommendations made in 2016 are “even more relevant now”, with over half of disabled people struggling to pay their energy bills in 2022.
The EHRC has stressed the danger of a “continuing failure” by the UK and Welsh governments to make necessary reforms, including to address problems with the welfare system, poor engagement with disabled people and their organisations in many parts of the UK, and “inadequate public services for disabled people, leaving them at a higher risk of poverty, abuse and poor health”.
Kishwer Falkner, Chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission said: “Alongside other human rights and equality bodies in Britain and Northern Ireland, we urge the governments in London and Cardiff to address the problems faced by disabled people and take action to address the UN’s recommendations from 2016.
“Disabled people must be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. The recommendations made years ago must be addressed if the lives of disabled people are to improve.”
The evidence report was produced by the United Kingdom Independent Mechanism (UKIM). UKIM consists of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Scottish Human Rights Commission.
Lottie Winson
