Guide Dog users demand equal treatment. (East Staffordshire Liberal Democrats)

East Staffordshire Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Guide Dog users demand equal treatment.

April 1, 2009 3:27 PM
Originally published by Liz Lynne MEP

The European Parliament was today the venue for an event examining discrimination against guide dog users across Europe hosted by LibDem MEP for the West Midlands Liz Lynne.

The event was held to mark the launch of the European Guide Dogs Federation's (EGDF) report into the day to day discrimination that blind or partially sighted people who use guide dogs face. While in the UK guide dog users are given special rights to take their dogs into shops or other businesses the situation elsewhere in Europe is very different making it difficult for guide dog users to access every day goods and services.

Speaking at the event Liz Lynne, who is Vice- President of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, as well as Vice President of the Parliament's All Party Disability Intergroup said:

"This report by the EGDF provides clear evidence of the differing experiences of guide dog users and the daily discrimination that they face.

"Guide Dog Users encounter difficulties in travelling, accessing shops, restaurants, health facilities, or other services, because some countries do not have the legislation in place to guarantee the rights of disabled people.

"In the UK, for example, taxi drivers must take a guide dog, and at no extra cost, by law. There is no similar anti-discrimination legislation in Denmark, Greece, or Poland.

"Not only do EU citizens have different rights and receive different treatment in various EU member states, but freedom of movement is hindered by the fact that there are no common standards."

The launch of the European Guide Dog Federation's report coincided with a debate in the European Parliament on new legislation aiming to end such discrimination. The new rules, seek to outlaw discrimination in accesses to goods and services on the grounds of age, religion or belief, sexual orientation and disability. Race and Gender are already covered in existing legislation.

The proposed new laws were secured following a report by Liz, adopted last year, calling for the legislation. Liz also drafted a report on the new proposals which was adopted last month by the Employment and Social Affairs Committee in which she secured amendments specifically highlighting that the law must take guide dogs into account.

Commenting on the potential of the new legislation for guide dog users Liz said::

"I am delighted the civil liberties committee has adopted my amendments to ensure guide dog users will be specifically protected under the new rules. I very much hope that these amendments will receive strong support at the Parliament's plenary vote on Thursday."

ENDS