The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights has presented sixteen points for full societal participation for persons with a disability. The Institute deems the points essential to be able to comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities en therefore calls on the State Secretary to put the points on the agenda.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities entered into effect in the Netherlands on July 14, 2016. As an observer, the Institute has the task to promote compliance with the convention. From this position, the Institute has spoken with a large range of people and organizations about how the Netherlands can ensure that persons with a disability have the opportunity to fully participate in society. This showed that there are obstructions to achieving autonomy and inclusion in the areas of accessibility, work, education, independent housing and participation in society. In this respect, the following points have been compiled:

Accessibility

1. Ensuring awareness about accessibility in the physical and digital environment of clients, designers, builders and auditors. A starting point should be the principle of 'design for all'.
2. Taking into account the broad meaning of the concept 'accessibility'. It is not only about physical disabilities, but also about visual, auditory, intellectual and psychological disabilities.

Independent housing and participating in society

1. Promote independent housing, also for people in a care facility, to respect the autonomy of persons with a disability.
2. Stimulate the development of housing that are suitable to persons with a disability.
3. Ensure that independent living meets the actual needs for support of persons with a disability.

Education

1. Research what is needed to transform set education into inclusive education. Use General Comment no.4 of the CRPD Committee for policy and regulations.
2. Take concrete measures to get people at home back into school.
3. Ensure that the wish of the child is a starting point in the appropriate type of education.
4. Provide teachers in training for regular education with knowledge on education for students with disabilities.

Work

1. Make sure that work for persons with a disability is profitable, relevant and sustainable. Comply with the Participation Act to the extent that there is space for individual approaches.
2. Enable employers and make it attractive for them to hire persons with a disability in a sustainable way: for a longer period of time and with the appropriate means.
3. Use good examples of employers who succeed in hiring persons with a disability and keeping them on board.

General

1. Engage persons with a disability on all levels of decision-making.
2. Educate people with a disability about possibilities to report abuse and facilitate organizations that handle their complaints in handling complaints adequately.
3. Collect information about structures, processes and results of policy that affect persons with a disability. Adjust policy and law where needed.
4. Involve all ministries in the implementation of the UN Convention.

The Netherlands Institute for Human Rights urges the Ministry of Health, Wellbeing and Sport to ensure, with the help of this 16-point plan, full participation of persons with a disability in society.