Newly approved welfare reforms raise concerns

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland have raised concerns about how the UK Government’s welfare reform plans, including recently approved legislation, will have a negative impact upon persons with disabilities. This comes at a time of continued inaction by the Government in fulfilling its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

The two Commissions have a role as the Independent Mechanism for Northern Ireland (IMNI), monitoring the implementation of the UNCRPD in Northern Ireland, and jointly convening the IMNI Disability Stakeholder Forum.

Alyson Kilpatrick, Chief Commissioner, Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and Geraldine McGahey, Chief Commissioner, Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said:

“Last year the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities highlighted the failure of the State to address grave and systematic violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities, and a failure to eliminate the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

We are extremely concerned at the lack of progress and action to address these human rights and equality failings. The UK Government’s recently approved welfare reform measures also risk exacerbating issues already affecting persons with disabilities in Northern Ireland.

Worryingly, there has been limited consultation with persons with disabilities. Any changes to welfare should include careful and meaningful consultation with disabled people and their representative organisations, as required by the UNCRPD.

We urge the UK Government and NI Executive to act now to review the impact of all new welfare measures on disabled people in Northern Ireland and uphold its international human rights obligations. It is time to address the issues raised by the UNCRPD Committee and implement their recommendations without delay.” concluded the Commissioners.

ENDS