UK: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND DISABLED PEOPLE BACK UN CONCERNS OVER PIP AND UC BILL

Amnesty International and The Disabled Persons Organisations Forum England (DPOFE) and have called for the PIP and UC bill to be scrapped after the UN wrote to the UK Government raising concerns over its impact on disabled people

The letter highlights concerns that the remaining cuts to universal credit could lead to increased poverty despite previous UN condemnation of grave and systemic rights violations.

“Disabled People's Organisations faced such hostility from our government that we reached out for help to the UN. They have now answered our call” Rick Burgess Co-Chair of The Disabled Persons Organisations Forum England (DPOFE)

“It should shame the Government that the UN has felt the need to intervene over their brutal cuts to Universal Credit” - Amnesty International’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead Jen Clark

Disabled Persons Organisations Forum England and Amnesty International have called on the Government to scrap the PIP and UC bill, following a letter by the UN raising concerns over the impact of the bill. The UN letter highlight a lack of consultation with disabled people, inadequate impact assessments, and regressive policy changes that risk deepening poverty and rights violations, particularly for those with complex needs, amongst other concerns.

The UN have called for a response to their letter by the 11^th of August.

Commenting on the UN’s letter, Rick Burgess, co-founder of Co-Chair of the DPOFE and Amnesty International UK Disabled People’s Human Rights Network said: “Disabled People's Organisations faced such hostility from our government that we reached out for help to the UN. They have now answered our call and it is clear that Keir Starmer risks further destroying disabled people's human rights if his government carries on with its Bills and does not change ableist assumptions about us. It is utterly shameful we have to yet again appeal for international help to defend us against our own government.”

Commenting on the proposed cuts to Universal Credit, Amnesty International’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, Jen Clark said:

“It should shame the Government that the UN has felt the need to intervene over these rushed, shambolic brutal cuts to Universal Credit and wider social security reform. These cuts will leave young disabled people or those with illnesses that vary day to day, such as mental health conditions and multiple sclerosis, at high risk of being pushed into poverty and unable to access their basic rights to food, housing and the care they need. Following the pause on the cuts to PIP, the bill should now be fully scrapped. It is unforgivable that the Government is choosing to balance the books by impoverishing some of the most vulnerable people in our society, instead of asking the very wealthiest to pay more.”