Second National Action Plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities now published — rights of people with disabilities must be taken into account in all activities

Finland has published the second National Action Plan on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Action Plan will implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which entered into force in summer 2016 . 

One of the key objectives of the Action Plan is to increase awareness of the rights of people with disabilities and of the mainstreaming  of their rights in different administrative branches and across society in general. Mainstreaming means that the rights of people with disabilities are taken into account in all activities. 

110 measures towards a more equal society

The Action Plan contains 110 individual measures, which different ministries are committed to implement. The measures set out in the Action Plan are divided into 13 sets of measures, some of which are principled and cross-cutting. 

The Action Plan, which was prepared amid the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, now includes safety as a new content area. Particular attention must be paid to the safety of people with disabilities under emergency conditions. At the same time, it is also important to remember to respect human rights.

“The Action Plan is a step towards a more equal society, but we are not there yet. We cannot settle for providing people with disabilities with poorer employment, education, standard of living and level of social inclusion compared to the rest of the population. We still have work to do in the field of accessibility, too. Everyone with disabilities should have their own home and the opportunity to lead an independent and fulfilling life. Finland is currently implementing major social reforms that could also promote these objectives,” says Minister of Family Affairs and Social Services Krista Kiuru.

Action Plan was prepared together with organisations for people with disabilities

The Advisory Board for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, VANE, was responsible for drawing up the Action Plan. The Advisory Board includes representatives of organisations for people with disabilities, labour market organisations and the ministries with key significance to the rights of people with disabilities. 

Disability organisations  and other stakeholders were also consulted in the course of preparing the Action Plan. They provided information about the matters that according to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should primarily be promoted in the Action Plan.

Inquiries:

Merja Heikkonen, Secretary General, tel. +358 295 163 203