Getting our Rights Right 1 st Annual Disabled People’s Summit 3 rd December, 2015 A Rights State Jim Elder-Woodward

Background Today is the 1 st Annual Disabled People’s Summit in Scotland The Scottish Government wants a fairer, more equal and socially just Scotland What one might call – “A Rights State” Today, we’re asking you – Is that the Scotland you know?

A State of Perma-austerity We’ve all heard about the need for cuts in public expenditure But we must ask ourselves, politicians, government officials, our allies, as well as disabled people; Are we doing it in the RIGHT WAY?

A State of Perma-austerity Have all of these cut-backs in welfare and social care been done fairly? Are we living in and fair, just and equitable state?

But Please Remember! Disabled people have rights, even if they are not yet the reality they should be These rights are obligations – they are not discretionary

Rights to Reality The trouble is these rights seldom become reality. What we really need from today is not commitments to listen or to look into things But commitments to do things and to show that they have been done!

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) The SG's Draft Delivery Plan ( ) Today, we’re talking about how the Scottish Government plans to deliver opportunities which would, they say, enable disabled people to exercise their rights under the UNCRPD Remember, though, it can only deliver that which is within it’s devolved powers Although, with the coming of the Scotland Act, these powers will increase, e.g. certain welfare benefits will become devolved to Scotland

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) The SG's Draft Delivery Plan ( ) Disabled people and their organisations have been working with the Scottish Government, not just on their draft plan, but in other particular areas Such as housing, social work and health So you must appreciate that to some extent we have already been given a ‘listening ear’ All we can hope for is that the ‘listening ear’ can make the many ‘hands’ of government work to our benefit

A Listening Ear But today that ‘listening ear’ is listening to you Generally, disabled people haven’t been used to such an opportunity But today will be different Today is designed to give disabled people a genuine opportunity to tell the Scottish Government exactly what the reality of living in an unfair, unequal society really is

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) The SG's Draft Delivery Plan ( ) The Scottish Government say they want four outcomes for this plan : Disabled people should have equal and inclusive communication and access to: The physical and cultural environment, transport and suitable, affordable housing Healthcare provision and support for independent living Education, paid employment and appropriate income and support whether in or out of work The justice system without fear of being unfairly judged or punished, and with protection of personal and private rights.

1 st Disabled People’s Summit I’m not going to say much, if anything, about the UNCRPD or the Scottish Government’sdelivery plan My role is to put today’s discussion within the context of what’s happening to disabled people under the extremities of the austerity cuts In welfare, social care, housing, transport, education, employment, etc.

Pope Francis “Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that create huge inequalities.”

Bullingdon George I welcome the recent U-turn on working tax credits This will help many disabled people who work for very low wages. But I must ask, where were these voices, some very load and powerful voices, when the UK Government cut disability benefits?

Impact of Welfare Reform The Centre for Welfare Reform estimates that in England the combination of cuts in benefits AND services announced in the last Parliament will mean that: People in poverty will lose an average of £2,195 per year - 5 times more than the burden placed on the average citizen. Disabled people will lose an average of £4,410 per year - 9 times more than the burden placed on the average citizen. People with severe disabilities, in need of daily care, will lose an average of £8,832 per year - 19 times the burden

Consequences Growing numbers forced to use food banks Rapid reduction in social care services Growing crises in health care services as social care diminishes Growing number of deaths (910,000)among those just newly assessed as ‘fit for work’ and taken off benefits Increased personal debt Increased mental health problems Increased family breakdown Growing inequality

Nadia Clarke: My Rights, “I worry about the future as I have been told that my funding may not be enough for me to have the right amount of support to enable me to live my life.”

1 st Disabled People’s Summit This Summit is not about making new rights These already exist in the UNCRPD and Equality Act, But they are not always delivered as intended through every policy or service. It’s about halting their incessant clawback by both local and central governments It’s about making progress to ensure disabled people enjoy the rights they have.

Disability Discrimination Act, 1995 This is the 20 th anniversary of the DDA Disabled people had been campaigning for this for neigh on 20yrs Like the UNCRPD, the DDA was developed by, with and for disabled people. The DDA gave disabled people a number of rights, including not to be discriminated against Unfortunately, the DDA has now been watered down by the Equality Act 2010

Dame Jane Campbell of Surbiton The lady in the front middle of the last picture is Dame Jane Campbell of Surbiton who was one of the main campaigners for the 1995 Act. I can only end this presentation today By repeating what she has recently said on this, the 20 th Anniversary of the 1995 Act:

Dame Jane Campbell of Surbiton “My message to disabled people today and in the future is not only to remember that you are enjoying the fruits of our labour and outrage, but to think about what needs to be done next. Our liberation is just beginning. There is so much to achieve.”