Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on Human Rights Report into the implementation of disabled people's

right to independent living Welcome Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson welcomed the speakers and audience to the seminar, on behalf of Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton. Pam Duncan; Intern with Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton; spoke on the importance of today in embedding this report as not only a reflection on the state of rights to independent living but also as a call to action to make change happen. A message from Baroness Campbell, who was disappointed not to be there due to ill health, thanked the chair and committee, the clerks, special advisers and those who submitted evidence. She reminded us of the importance of the report at this time and of using it. In particular, the need to embed dignity, autonomy and participation as key values that will prevent the institutionalisation of disabled people through bureaucratic failure, red-tape and a lack of support. The chair of the JCHR, Dr Hywel Francis MP restated the committees commitment to the both the human rights of disabled people and of the report in realising these. He added that the seminar was the beginning of a campaign to ensure the recommendations of the report were implemented and said that he hoped the Governments response to the report would be debated in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. Presentation Neil Crowther, Jenny Morris and Caroline Gooding presented the findings of the committee and its recommendations. They reminded us that this is the first Parliament anywhere in the world to use the UNCRPD as a lens to view Government Policy and that the world was watching the UK keenly to see what happens next.

Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on Human Rights Report into the implementation of disabled people's right to independent living, March 2012

Questions & discussion The question of the status of the UNCRPD as soft law or hard law was raised. The confusion was thought to stem from the status of the UNCRPD in UK domestic law however, the seminar was reminded that Treatys to which the UK are signed up are legally binding and so represent hard law. It was felt that that a key priority for action on the report must be to embed the rights in the UNCRPD as the hard law they represent. Access to justice for disabled people was highlighted in the report as an area of concern. Equally, access to democratic processes, including Parliamentary seminars, was also highlighted, especially in relation to communication support. A great deal of the discussion focused upon the role of the report as an accountability mechanism. The Government is expected to respond to the report in May. In the meantime, the report should be considered a tool for dialogue between disabled people, their organisations and agencies with responsibility for implementing the rights set out in the Convention. The question of whether the report could encourage a re-think of Dilnotts starting point around the funding of social care through general taxation was raised. It was felt that this particular issue was outwith the specific scope of the report, but that its findings could be useful in the future decisions on the funding of social care. The issue of how human rights should be protected and promoted via the commissioning of public services was identified as an area requiring action including clear guidance Disabled people and their organisations are instrumental to ensuring that that the Convention is implemented in full. It was noted that disabled people and their organisations would require financial and other support to do so in future.

Pam Duncan pam@ilis.co.uk Intern with Baroness Campbell of Surbiton March 2012
Parliamentary Seminar Summary report: The Joint Committee on Human Rights Report into the implementation of disabled people's right to independent living, March 2012