25 January 2010
Better health = better lives
For two days in December, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), we hosted a meeting of international NGOs under the banner “Better Health for Better Lives”. The meeting was part of the ongoing consultation around the development and implementation of a European declaration on children with intellectual disabilities.
What is the declaration about?
The ultimate aim of the declaration is to improve the health and well-being of children and young people with intellectual disabilities. The initiative was launched by the WHO in cooperation with the governments of the member states of the Europe region, so that they can agree a set of priorities and recommended actions. The drafting of the declaration has been supported by a steering group comprising self-advocates, family members, academics, clinicians, service providers, and other relevant stakeholders from non-governmental and government sectors, and international organisations.
The ten priorities
The declaration contains ten priority areas that are considered to be matters of urgency:
- Protection of children and young people with intellectual disabilities from harm and abuse;
- Tansfer of care from institutions to the community;
- Enabling children to grow up in families;
- Identification of the needs of each child and young person;
- Ensuring that good quality health care is available;
- Safeguarding the health and wellbeing of family and family carers;
- Enabling children with intellectual disabilities to speak up for themselves, be listened to, and make a contribution within their communities;
- Building the capacity and reinforcing the commitment of the workforce;
- Collecting essential information and assure quality;
- Investing equitably.
These ten priorities are then followed by a set of recommended actions that will facilitate their implementation.
Signing the declaration
The declaration will be opened for signature in June 2010 by representatives of UN defined European governments . By signing the declaration, governments will also agree to adopt their own action plan to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people with intellectual disabilities in their respective countries. At the same time, States also commit themselves to ensure that children with disabilities are equal citizens with the same rights to health and social care, education, protection and support as non-disabled children. They also agree that children with intellectual disabilities should have equal opportunities to live stimulating and fulfilling lives in the community with their families and alongside their non-disabled peers.
Our involvement
- Our Chief Executive, Richard Alderlade, co-hosted the event with Matt Muijen, Regional Adviser for Mental Health, WHO Europe
- Georgette Mulheir has been asked to join the Steering Committee and Drafting Group for this Declaration
- Georgette has also been asked to provide two expert papers (on deinstitutionalisation and assisting children with intellectual disabilities to stay with their families) to accompany the Declaration
- Jane Anthony, one of our experts who specialises in inclusive education, has been hired to project manage the meeting and ensure quality ongoing input from the NGOs
