International

The Office for Disability Issues works to influence policy on disability within Europe and across the world

The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) works across Europe to promote disability human rights.

The ODI represents the UK at the European Union's High Level Group on Disability and on the Co-ordination Forum for the Council of Europe.

European Union’s High Level Group on Disability

Member states are responsible for disability policies. However, the European Commission has an important role to play. It strengthens the cooperation between states through support activities and the collection, exchange and development of data, statistics and good practices. The High Level Group on Disability is the main discussion and cooperation forum.

European Union Conference on Disability

2 June 2007, Berlin

Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, gave the closing speech at the second European Union Conference on Disability (also called the European Conference on the Integration of Disabled People: Education, Employment and Equal Opportunities – Empowering Persons with Disabilities).

Anne spoke about disability policy in the UK, future developments and stressed the need for continuing cooperation.

Read speeches by the Minister

Council of Europe

The ODI represents the UK on the Co-ordination Forum for the Council of Europe's Disability Action Plan 2006-2015.

The action plan's key objective is to:

provide a tool that countries in the Council of Europe can use to forward full participation of disabled people in society
ensure disability rights are considered as part of all policy making.

The action plan follows the same principles as the UN Convention by using human rights to enhance independence, freedom of choice and the quality of life of people with disabilities and to raise awareness of disability as a part of human diversity.

Disability Action Plan Key Action Lines (PDF, 3MB, 67 Pages). (Please note: This is not intended to be a literal translation and should be used with the full version).

Read more on the Action Plan on the Council of Europe website.