Crisis in disabled people's rights
Two new reports warning of a “crisis” in disabled people’s rights have been submitted in parallel to the United Nations. The first report commissioned by the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) warns that in the face of rising inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, and the ongoing effects of COVID-19, disabled people in Scotland are experiencing "unrelenting attacks on their human rights."
Six in 10 people who died with Covid-19 were disabled people and over half of all people living in poverty in Scotland live in a household with at least one disabled member. It is clear that disabled people are uniquely and increasingly vulnerable, but the report published by Scottish Independent Living Coalition (SILC) points to clear failings.
A report commissioned by Glasgow Disability Alliance and Glasgow Centre for Population Health, has further drawn on the collective effects of the cost-of-living crisis and Covid-19. One of the disabled research respondents wrote:
“In this cost-of-living crisis I feel the guillotine above my head all the time, I feel it so vividly. Things were always tight before, and even through COVID, but this is different. I can’t get by everything is so much more expensive, so much more. I have no room to move. It feels like you are condemned to a joyless life being disabled in this crisis.”
Days after the SILC’s report was published it was announced that a third of community links workers in Glasgow’s medical centres will be cut. Community links workers provide essential help with housing, benefits, debt, and abuse.
There are fears these cuts, part of £22 million set to be axed by Glasgow's Health and Social Care Partnership, could result in 13 month long waits for care packages.
In 2016 the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) conducted an inquiry into the impacts of austerity on disabled people’s rights. They found “grave and systemic” attacks to disabled rights in the UK. In the seven years that have passed there has been opportunity for improvement, but inaction, crisis and COVID19 has led to a worsening position for Scotland’s disabled people.
The Scottish Human Rights Commission will deliver their recommendations on how to protect disabled people’s rights to the United Nations later this month.