Alzheimer Europe - Promoting the rights of people affected by dementia

ongoing

AE’s rights based approach and strategic plan and objectives are closely aligned with the principles, objectives and aims of the UNCRPD and the ESRPD. Although dementia falls under the category of mental and intellectual disabilities, it is also often referred to as a “hidden disability” and the applicability or application of UNCRPD and ESRPD principles to people with dementia varies depending on the rights identified and from country to country. For its activities under the 2026-2028 Framework Partnership Agreement, AE will therefore continue to focus on how disability rights and legislation are relevant and applied to people with dementia. AE will identify specific rights, principles and recommendations and 1. explore the experiences and views of people affected by dementia by involving the organisation’s European Working Group of People with Dementia and European Dementia Carers Working Group 2. map and compare policy developments at national level and publish the findings in the organisation’s series of Yearbooks and 3. identify and promote examples of good practice in policies and from civil society organisations and the private sector. Concretely, in successive years, AE would concentrate in 2026 on how national dementia strategies have included disability specific rights and whether they are aligned with UNCRPD and ESRPD principles, in 2027 on how persons affected by dementia with other disabilities (deaf community, visual impairments, people with intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome) are supported through national policies and programmes and in 2028 on how persons affected by dementia from the LGBTQ+ community are supported at national level. In parallel to these content and rights related activities and priorities, AE will contribute to policy discussions at EU level on disability issues and policies and ensure the views of people with dementia, their carers and those of national Alzheimer’s associations are duly included.