Drive inclusion: 25 projects of the disabled council focus!

Drive inclusion: 25 projects of the disabled council focus!

Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Deutschland - On June 24, 2025, the council of disabled people in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, under the direction of Vizeland councilor Susanne Reich. Around 30 guests, including people with disabilities and committed supporters, came together to discuss the challenges of accessibility and inclusion. As part of the session, 25 projects were presented, which are to be implemented as part of the municipal action plan this year. This commitment shows how important the municipal level is for the implementation of inclusion and participation for people with disabilities. According to the Institute for Human Rights, municipal administrations and providers of support offers are actively involved in improving inclusion in Germany. This trend is underlined by the use of action plans and local participation planning in order to meet the needs of those affected, as [Institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de] (https://www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/aktuelles/metz-der-un-un- Disabled Rights Convention-in-deutsche-Kommunes) reports.

The municipal action plan depends on the requirements of the UN Disabled Rights Convention (UN-BRK), which came into force internationally in 2008 and was ratified by Germany on March 26, 2009. This convention aims to ensure equal social participation and the enjoyment of human rights for people with disabilities in Germany. A decisive aspect of this agreement is the obligation of the states to take suitable measures in order to promote the implementation of the UN-BRK, as the Federal Center for Political Education explains in its article on the UN-BRK bpb.de.

projects for inclusion

According to the information from the meeting, the 25 projects presented aim to reduce existing barriers and to promote the participation of people with disabilities. The action plan requires an active participation and inclusion of the people concerned, which is not always available in many German municipalities. In a Germany-wide investigation, planning for the implementation of the UN-BRK in 252 municipalities was found, but deficits in the inclusion of people with disabilities are shown in the planning process, especially when it comes to accessibility. Here, more intensive cooperation and a better understanding of the needs of people with disabilities could be an advantage.

The next examination of Germany by the UN committee to evaluate the implementation of the UN BRK is scheduled for August 2023 and could provide important insights into the status of inclusion in Germany. During the first exam in 2015, the committee criticized the existence of special systems that push many people to the brink with disabilities. It remains to be hoped that the current projects and the action plan of the disability council will help to improve the inclusion in the long term and to meet the legal obligations of the UN-BRK.

important steps forward

It is particularly worth mentioning that the UN-BRK has now set a human rights benchmark for the protection and equality of people with disabilities. Reforms to strengthen self-determination have started, but there is still a lot to do, especially in view of the challenges that Corona pandemic brought for people with disabilities. Despite progress such as the abolition of election rights excludes, the implementation of the principles of the UN-BRK remains a demanding task.

The initiatives of the disabled council in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen are a step in the right direction and show that both the municipalities and society have to stand up for the participation of people with disabilities. A strong and active cooperation is required to shape a more inclusive future together.