UN’s ‘damning verdict’ is ‘vindication’ of fightback against government’s rights violations

Disabled people’s organisations have welcomed the “damning verdict” of a UN committee on the government’s track record on key disability rights over the last seven years.

They spoke out last night (Wednesday) as the UN committee on the rights of disabled people concluded that the UK government had made “no significant progress” in the more than seven years since it was found guilty of “grave and systematic” violations of the disability convention (see separate story).

This morning, the government said they “strongly reject” the findings in the committee’s report.

Ellen Clifford, who has been coordinating work by the coalition of UK disabled people’s organisations that monitors implementation of the convention, said the committee’s verdict was “damning” and “timely”.

She said: “The UN report could not be more timely given that our government and sections of the media are currently engaged in attacks on Deaf and disabled people in direct contravention of the recommendations made by the UN disability rights committee more than seven years ago.”

She said the government’s attitude towards the UN’s inquiry was “evidence that their treatment of Deaf and disabled people is wilful and calculated” and “is reflected in the damning findings of the report”.

Last week, Clifford was granted permission to bring a judicial review of the government’s consultation on its plans to tighten the work capability assessment, which she said in December appeared to have been “a smokescreen for cuts”.

Andy Greene, a member of the national steering group of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) – which spent years researching and lobbying the committee to carry out its original investigation – said of the UN report: “As ever, these inquiries capture another chapter in the story disabled people have been telling for well over a decade now.

“The most powerful service they provide though is to vindicate those who tell this and those who resist and push back against what’s going on.

“The process of evidence gathering, taking witness testimony and objective scrutiny of policy and its impact, is one that’s very difficult to ridicule or dismiss.

“The facts speak for themselves.”

The committee said the UK government had “failed to take all appropriate measures to address grave and systematic violations” of disabled people’s human rights and had “failed to eliminate the root causes of inequality and discrimination” since November 2016.

It particularly highlighted its failures on the rights to independent living, to work, and to an adequate standard of living and social protection, laid out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

Among its recommendations, the committee says it is “appalled” by reports of deaths linked to benefit claims that have a “disturbingly consistent theme”, with disabled people “resorting to suicide” following the denial of adequate support.

It calls for the government to take urgent action to “prevent, review and respond to” benefit-related deaths and provide appropriate compensation for the victims’ families.

Alison Burton, who gave evidence to the UN committee and whose father-in-law Errol Graham starved to death after the Department for Work and Pensions wrongly stopped his benefits when he missed a work capability assessment, welcomed the committee’s report.

She said: “I am pleased that the report highlighted the need for proper review and monitoring of the deaths of benefit claimants.”

And she said the report also highlighted how the government’s actions and hostility towards disabled people had contributed to disability hate crime.

She said the report showed clearly that disabled people were now “at war for our rights to be treated equally”.

Rhian Davies, chief executive of Disability Wales, welcomed the committee’s findings that the UK government had “failed to take appropriate measures to address grave and systemic violations of disabled people’s rights”.

She said: “Neither the UK government or Welsh government have properly supported independent living, particularly during the cost-of-living crisis.

“The UK government’s approach to this review has been utterly disrespectful and matches the contempt shown to disabled people for over a decade.

“We deserve better and we demand better.”

Svetlana Kotova, director of campaigns and justice for Inclusion London, said the report was “a damning verdict on the government’s track record in upholding our human rights”.

She said: “Since the 2016 finding of ‘grave and systematic’ rights violations, the UN committee has not only seen no significant progress, they have also documented evidence of retrogression.

“Moreover, the committee finds that UK welfare policy is based on a pervasive and hostile framework and rhetoric that devalues disabled people and undermines our human rights.

“It is shocking that our country that positions itself as a world leader is yet again found to breach our rights on a systematic level.

“It is also shocking that the government has failed to listen to the UN in the past and has actively dismissed the previous recommendations.”

She added: “We welcome the report and urge the government and the opposition to take it seriously and develop policies on welfare reform, employment and independent living that comply with the UK’s obligations under the [convention].”

Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, accused the government of a “complete disregard for international law and contempt for disabled people’s rights.”

He pointed to last week’s speech by the prime minister (see separate story), which announced an “onslaught of new policy proposals and legislation which will not only harm us but also lead to avoidable deaths”.

He said: “Despite having seven years to do so, the UK government has made no progress on improving the rights of disabled people.

“Instead, our rights, access to support, and the provision of services have all deteriorated, with an increase in hostility and hate.

“Under this government, the UK has lost its status as a nation that leads in disability rights to one that is actively attacking disabled people.”

John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle, welcomed the report.

He said: “After campaigning solidly against the inhumane work capability assessment regime for 14 years, it is life-affirming that the [committee] has officially expressed its profound shock and outrage at the tragic loss of hundreds of lives that have occurred as a direct result during this time.

“In addition, the committee has called for a full investigation into the circumstances and for redress and reparations for bereaved families where appropriate.

“There must be no further so-called ‘welfare reform’ until the UK has fully complied with the committee’s recommendations.”

Natasha Hirst, the disabled president of the National Union of Journalists, said the report highlighted how there had “never been a more important time for journalists and the wider media industry to tackle harmful negative rhetoric against disabled people”.

She said: “I call on journalists to take time to understand the concerns raised by the UN committee and scrutinise why the government is so keen to dismiss their failure to uphold disabled people’s human rights.

“Deaf and disabled people’s organisations have thoroughly evidenced the harm caused by policy changes and cuts to services and yet the UK government is intent on pushing this even further.

“Disabled people’s voices need to be heard and not drowned out and demonised by people who have never experienced the sharp end of the social security system.

“As journalists, we should report ethically to hold power to account, and not be complicit in the scapegoating of disabled people.”

Dorothy Gould, founder of the user-led, rights-based organisation Liberation, said the report “should make any government that deserves to hold power sit up, take notice and drastically change course”.

She said: “Until it becomes illegal to lock disabled people up in institutions and forcibly treated, there will be continuing abuse of our human rights.

“A huge strength of the report is its recognition of that.”

She added: “An enormous strength of the report is its balance.

“In its coverage of disabled people’s right to independent living, equal access to work and employment and right to an adequate standard of living, the [committee] has looked widely and comprehensively.”

Dermot Devlin, from DPAC Northern Ireland, said: “The report is a shameful indictment of callous failure on the part of a government that has been found to have overseen ‘a pervasive framework and rhetoric that devalues disabled people and undermines their human dignity’.

“Not only has the Committee found no evidence of progress, it has highlighted further evidence of retrogression.

“The continued failure to address the ongoing grave and systematic violations of our human rights must not be allowed to continue.”

A government spokesperson said this morning: “We are grateful for the committee’s work monitoring this vital convention, but strongly reject their conclusions.

“Individuals and organisations may not agree with this government’s approach, but it is a fact that we are tackling the barriers faced by disabled people, including helping one million more disabled people into jobs five years ahead of schedule, providing unprecedented health and employment support through our £2.5 billion Back to Work Plan as well as our Chance to Work Guarantee, improving the health and disability benefits system, and enhancing the accessibility of homes and transport.

“In addition, our new Disability Action Plan sets out the practical actions the government is taking to improve disabled people’s daily lives, complementing the long term vision set out in the National Disability Strategy.”

Picture, by Natasha Hirst: Members of disabled people’s organisations in Geneva last month to meet with the UN committee and hear the UK government give evidence about its progress

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