International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020: Official Statements
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, an event took place at Palazzo Chigi attended by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, along with FISH President Vincenzo Falabella and FAND President Nazaro Pagano. Education Minister Lucia Azzolina and University and Research Minister Gaetano Manfredi also participated in the gathering.
Disability Policy: Welfare Based on Human Rights Required
FISH and FAND Appeal: "A substantial reform of the current system is needed, moving from a protection-based model to one founded on human, civil, and social rights."
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ratified through Law 18/2009, requires not only the involvement of affected individuals in decisions concerning them, but also the consideration of disability in all policies affecting citizens. This establishes a clear political commitment and institutional framework for coordinating and modernizing current legislation.
The Convention's principles represent an ideal manifesto for FISH and FAND federations and the entire associative network they represent, serving as their unified voice to the country's main institutions. Building on discussions held with the Government and various interactions with the Prime Minister's office during recent months regarding emergency management, FISH and FAND now seek to advance this dialogue around future disability policies and the organizational and functional aspects necessary for their implementation.
While the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides an ideal and political reference point, persons with disabilities continue to face obstacles in their societal participation and experience violations of their human rights throughout Italy and at various life stages.
The COVID-19 pandemic's global spread has severely tested the entire Italian system, particularly our National Health Service and Social Protection System. It has plunged many people into a state of deep concern, made worse by uncertainty about the future, the time needed to overcome the crisis, and its consequences on our lives and social relationships.
These concerns are even more acute among thousands of persons with disabilities in our country, whose living conditions are already largely determined by protection and social inclusion levels that we know to be inadequate. The pandemic's impact on our communities will force us to rethink many aspects of our lives and reorient priorities toward ensuring greater health and safety protection for all citizens, especially those most vulnerable and exposed to health-related risks, including many persons with disabilities.
Current Welfare System Inadequate
The current welfare service system is visibly unsuited to providing flexible responses to persons with disabilities, having been based for years on standardized services unable to provide personalized responses to people and their different needs, based on their specific life contexts and autonomy and independence projects.
According to FISH and FAND, immediate investment is needed in social action that considers:
- The necessary fight against segregation and related support for home-based living (Non-Self-Sufficiency Fund)
- Support for family caregivers to operate within an integrated system of support interventions and services (not left alone with mere financial contributions to manage complex disability needs)
- The need to rethink intervention construction from an independent living perspective (Independent Living Fund)
- The need to define national plans to initiate deinstitutionalization processes and combat all forms of segregation with support for autonomous, independent living and home-based care—necessary supports to guarantee choice of where, how, and with whom to live, including supported living, "during and after us"
In other words, substantial reform of the current welfare system is needed, moving from a protection-based system to a new model based on human, civil, and social rights. This requires defining and adopting social LEP (Essential Performance Levels), including through comprehensive reorganization of required spending under an adequate National Fund capable of meeting the needs of all persons with disabilities and non-self-sufficient individuals.
President Mattarella's Statement
"A people's level of civilization is measured by their ability to ensure inclusion, equal opportunities, rights and participation for persons with disabilities."
"On the International Day for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I wish to express attention and closeness to our fellow citizens with disabilities, their families, and all those—professionals and volunteers—who care for them daily with competence and dedication."
"The difficult situation due to the pandemic is undoubtedly creating discomfort and difficulties for everyone, including through necessary but painful restrictions on mobility and social contacts. But these become much more serious impediments for people already living with movement or relationship difficulties."
"If isolation for health requirements is inherently burdensome, it can become truly dramatic when experienced by persons with physical or mental disabilities."
"I think of those who need continuous assistance, those living in institutions, those who somehow depend for their daily existence on medications, equipment, or support from others."
"The difficulties and risks in obtaining ordinary care and treatment at medical facilities and hospitals, strenuously engaged in confronting the COVID emergency, are concerning."
"To eliminate these consequences and return to normal conditions, the virus must be defeated as soon as possible, respecting—despite even serious inconveniences—behavioral rules against contagion."
"Disability, whether personal or of a family member, is often associated with precarious income and employment conditions. Access to employment for persons with disabilities represents a central issue."
"The condition of minors with disabilities is particularly delicate. The pandemic exacerbates the difficulty of following school lessons. And the lack of relationships with teachers and peers risks producing additional conditions of marginalization."
"Disability is often inevitably linked to the third and fourth age. These elderly individuals constitute a particularly at-risk category during the pandemic and greatly suffer from solitude, lack of direct relationships with family and acquaintances, and difficulty managing concrete aspects of daily life."
"Italy has made many steps forward in recent years to temper the effects of disabilities and promote genuine respect for the rights of persons with disabilities, committing to breaking down physical and cultural barriers and obstacles that limit their legitimate aspirations."
"The European Union last month approved a declaration, binding for member states, to build together an inclusive Europe for persons with disabilities."
"However, even greater commitment is necessary—particularly during this health emergency—to maintain and improve levels of care, support, and attention. This includes through listening and involvement in this precious activity of associations and organizations expressing the voice of persons with disabilities."
"A people's level of civilization is measured by their ability to ensure inclusion, equal opportunities, rights, and participation for persons with disabilities in all areas of public, social, and economic life."
Message from Pope Francis
Additional Resources
