“Forgotten”: Declaration of the COFACE Disability Platform for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families

The Members of the COFACE Disability Platform for the rights of persons with disabilities and their families, supported by the wider network of COFACE Families Europe, urge the EU, national and local governments to take immediate action to address the consequences of the current social and health crisis on persons with disabilities, their families and their carers.

On the 24th of June 2020, the members of the COFACE Disability Platform gathered to discuss their priorities for the year to come and the consequences of the current social and health crisis on persons with disabilities and their families.

The lockdown has been a challenging period for persons with disabilities and their families. Persons with disabilities, who generally have more care and support needs than others, are therefore more vulnerable to the impact of low-quality or inaccessible care and daily support services.

Their family carers who already provided 80% of long-term care in Europe, were suddenly from one day to the next the sole supporters of their family members and under a mix of financial, physical and psychological stress. Reconciling work and family life became completely impossible, providing care and rehabilitation for which many had no training and without a moment of respite throughout the lockdown.

However, while their difficult conditions were well-known, persons with disabilities, their families and their carers have too often been forgotten in the preventive, health, economic and social actions that EU and Member States implemented to tackle the crisis. Read more