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Consultation and Influence
Disability Awareness in Action
Resource Kit No. 2
Download the "Consultation and Influence Kit" as a PDF file (180 KB)
European Social Charter
The members of the Council of Europe adopted the European Social Charter
in 1961, for the protection of social and economic rights.
The Charter also protects the right to vocational guidance and training,
to the protection of health, to social security, to social and medical assistance,
and the right to benefit from social welfare services, including the right
of disabled people to training and rehabilitation.
The Charter says that measures should be taken by the EC to make sure that
disabled people can take part in all aspects of working life. Special reference
is made to vocational training, "professional re-insertion" and
re-adaptation, improvement of mobility, transport and housing. A note to
the Charter recommends passing a directive on assistance for mobility-impaired
workers.
Extracts
Article 3
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to safe and healthy working conditions, the Contracting Parties undertake:
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right to vocational guidance, the Contracting Parties undertake to provide or promote, as necessary, a service which will assist all persons, including the handicapped, to solve problems related to occupational choice and progress, with due regard to the individual's characteristics and their relation to occupational opportunity; this assistance should be available free of charge, both to young persons, including school children, and to adults.Article 15
Part I
Disabled people have the right to vocational training, rehabilitation and resettlement, whatever the origin and nature of their disability.
Part II
The right of physically and mentally disabled persons to vocational training, rehabilitation and social resettlement.
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right of the physically or mentally disabled to vocational training, rehabilitation and resettlement, the Contracting Parties undertake:
With a view to ensuring the effective exercise of the right of mothers and children to social and economic protection, the Contracting Parties will take all appropriate and necessary measures to that end, including the establishment or maintenance of appropriate institutions or services.Article 26
Part I
All disabled persons whatever the origin and nature of their disablement must be entitled to additional concrete measures aimed at improving their social and professional integration.
Human life is sacred and inviolable and every effort shall be made to protect it. In particular, no one shall be exposed to injury or death, except under the authority of law.Article II
No person shall be subject to torture in mind or in body, or degraded, or threatened with injury either to himself or to anyone related to or held dear by him, or forcibly made to confess to the commission of a crime, or forced to consent to an act which is injurious to his interest.Article XIV
a In their economic pursuits, all persons are entitled to the full benefits of nature and all its resources.Article XVIII
Every person has the right to food, shelter, clothing, education and medical care consistent with the resources of the community. This obligation of the community extends in particular to all individuals who cannot take care of themselves owing to some temporary or permanent disability.Article XXI
Contents Consultation & Influence