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NUJ endorses UN censure of UK welfare cuts

By agency reporter
September 4, 2017

The National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) Disabled Members’ Council has supported calls on the UK government to take urgent action to address the human rights violations of deaf and disabled people.

A statement from the UK delegation of deaf and disabled people’s organisations, following a meeting of the United Nation's committee on the rights of persons  with disabilities (CRPD) in Geneva last week (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/24289), said: "The UN (CRPD) committee has, once again, condemned the UK government’s record on deaf and disabled people’s human rights. It validated the desperation, frustration and outrage experienced by deaf and disabled people since austerity and welfare cuts began. It is not acceptable for the UK government to ignore the strong and united message of the disability community."

Theresia Degener, the committee's chair, said of the UK's record: "Evidence before us now and in our inquiry procedure as published in our 2016 report reveals that welfare cut policies have led to human catastrophe in your country, totally neglecting the vulnerable situation people with disabilities find themselves in."

 In response, the NUJ's Disabled Members’ Council, said: "The attacks on the ability of disabled people to work and live have been rightly condemned by the UN committee on the rights of disabled people. We commend the dedication of disability activists and disabled journalists in gathering evidence and bringing stories to light on the growing injustices faced by disabled people in the UK. There is a role for NUJ members and the media industry on a wider scale to tackle negative rhetoric and unfair reporting on disability where it occurs. We are pleased to see that the voices of disabled people have been heard by the UN and will endeavour to support our disabled members to enforce their rights at work.”

* NUJ https://www.nuj.org.uk/home/

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