Government slammed

A UN committee has slammed the UK government for failing to address the “grave and systematic violations of the human rights” of disabled people highlighted by the body more than seven years ago.

A report in April from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Disabled People concluded that the government has made “no significant progress” in tackling the violations it noted in 2016, adding there had been further regression in some areas raising numerous issues of “deep concern”.

The government, it said, “has failed to take all appropriate measures to address grave and systematic violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities and has failed to eliminate the root causes of inequality and discrimination.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said the report painted “a damning picture” of life in the UK for disabled people.

“Being disabled should not mean you are consigned to a poor standard of living. Ministers must act on this report and eliminate the root causes of inequality,” he said “It is not right that millions of disabled workers are stuck in low-paid jobs and in-work poverty.”

His response was echoed by many disability campaigners, including Svetlana Kotova, director of campaigns and justice at Inclusion London, who described the report as “shocking”.

“UK welfare policy is based on a pervasive and hostile framework and rhetoric that devalues disabled people,” she said.