West Midlands Euro-MP gets United Nations disability role

12.45.24pm GMT Tue 18th Mar 2003

Liz wants to see the EU adopt a directive guaranteeing disabled people's rights across Europe.

West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne has been appointed the Rapporteur for the European Parliament's report on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People.

Liz said:

"I am delighted to have been given this important responsibility. This Convention has the potential to set the agenda on disabled people's rights on a global scale, and the European Parliament has a role to play in its drafting."

"Having a UN Convention on disabled people could potentially do a lot to put disabled people into the mainstream. It is important that we move away from the medical model of disability and move towards one based on civil liberties."

"Liz Lynne was the Rapporteur for the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003, and has visited several projects set up to mark the year across the West Midlands region already. Later this week, she will be reporting to the European Parliament's Social Affairs Committee on the progress of the year so far.