CRPD concluding observations 2017, paragraph 45
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Recognise disabled people’s right to live independently and be included in the community in UK laws, so that it can be enforced in UK courts. Adopt rights-based policies and guidelines to ensure this right is implemented. (b) Carry out regular checks, working closely with disabled people’s organisations, to ensure policy reforms do not negatively impact disabled people. Develop strategies and ensure sufficient funding for support to live independently. (c) Adequately fund authorities across the UK to help disabled people live independently, be included in the community and choose where they live and who they live with. (d) Work closely with disabled people’s organisations to develp a detailed plan to move disabled people from institutions into the community, and ensure they receive full support there, including in education, childcare, transport, housing, employment and social security. (e) Fully fund support services to ensure they fit the needs of all disabled people, in both urban and rural areas.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee recommends that the State party, in line with the Committee’s general comment No. 5 (2017) on living independently and being included in the community and the Committee’s report on its inquiry concerning the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland carried out under article 6 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention. (a) Recognize the right to living independently and being included in the community as a subjective right, recognize the enforceability of all its elements, and adopt rights-based policies, regulations and guidelines to ensure implementation. (b) Conduct periodic assessments in close consultation with organizations of persons with disabilities to address and prevent the negative effects of policy reforms through sufficiently funded and appropriate strategies in the area of social support and living independently. (c) Provide adequate, sufficient earmarked funding to local authorities and administrations, including the devolved governments, to be able to continuously allocate adequate resources allowing persons with disabilities to live independently and be included in the community and to exercise their right to choose their place of residence and where and with whom to live. (d) Set up a comprehensive plan, developed in close collaboration with organizations of persons with disabilities, aimed at the deinstitutionalization of persons with disabilities, and develop community-based independent living schemes through a holistic and cross-cutting approach, including education, childcare, transport, housing, employment and social security. (e) Allocate sufficient resources to ensure that support services are available, accessible, affordable, acceptable, adaptable and are sensitive to different living conditions for all persons with disabilities in urban and rural areas.
Date of UN examination
03/10/2017
UN article number
19 (living independently)
Original UN document
Download the original CRPD concluding observations 2017 on the UN website