EDF position paper EU global role in COVID 19 response and impact on lives of persons with disabilit

We reviewed the EU response to the pandemic globally and more specifically the response of “Team Europe” to COVID- 19, the actions the EU has taken at the UN level, in its work in international cooperation and in relation to the COVID-19 vaccines. [...] The report provides recommendations to the EU and to us in the disability movement on the ways forward to respond to the pandemic while respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of persons with disabilities, including on inclusive vaccination. [...] UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has given the disability movement a strong legal framework to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, including in times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] The Action plan should refer to a) the implementation of the new ECHO “Guidance note on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in EU-funded humanitarian aid operations” in line with the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (2016) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action (2019). [...] All EU-funded actions for international development and humanitarian action, including in the COVID-19 response and recovery, should uphold to the principles of accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the community, and local, national and regional representative organisations of persons with disabilities should be strengthened as to ensure their meaningful involvement in the d.