London MEP calls for disabled rights to be protected by equalities committee

At a debate in the European Parliament today on the inclusion of people with disabilities, Conservative MEP for London Marina Yannakoudakis called for disabled rights to be protected by an equalities committee to be set up in the European Parliament.

Marina said: “If the European Parliament is serious about protecting the rights of people with disabilities it should deal with the issue in the same way it now deals with women’s rights.

“I have long held the belief that the focus of the women’s committee is too narrow. It’s time for the rights of other vulnerable groups to be covered by this committee. I believe we need a committee on equalities which would help deal with discrimination on the bases of gender, ethnicity, age, disability and sexual orientation.”

Marina is the Conservative Spokesman on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality in the European Parliament.