Concluding Observation (Indpendent Living)
UNCRPD's Concluding Observations on the initial report of the Philippines- Concluding Observations
- Independent Living
- Findings
- Living independently and being included in the community (art. 19)
- Rich Text
- The Committee is concerned about:
(a) The lack of recognition of the right to live independently and be included in the community as a subjective right;
(b) The absence of a strategy to ensure the transition from institutions to full independent living for all persons with disabilities within the community, including personal assistance;
(c) The lack of support services to enable persons with disabilities to be included and participate fully in the community, which contributes to the perpetuation of the institutionalization model.
- The Committee recommends that the State party take into account the Committee’s general comment No. 5 (2017) on living independently and being included in the community, and:
(a) Enact legislation aimed at recognizing the right of persons with disabilities to be included in the community and to choose their place of residence, and where and with whom they live. The State party should ensure that all persons with disabilities have the legal capacity to exercise their freedom of choice concerning living arrangements;
(b) Ensure the involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at all stages of the development of independent living strategies and schemes;
(c) Adopt the measures necessary to ensure that persons with disabilities have a legal entitlement to a sufficient personal budget for independent living, which takes into account the additional costs related to disability, and, at the same time, redirect resources from institutionalization to community-based services, while increasing the availability of personal assistance;
(d) Implement community support services, with qualified human resources and adequate budgets, to enable persons with disabilities to make independent decisions on where to live and to be included in the community
- Observatory
- Philippine Observatory on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities