The Council of Nordic Cooperation on Disability

• The Disability Council has existed since 2013 and its current mandate is valid until 2027.
• The Nordic Welfare Centre coordinates the Council’s activities and processes.
• The Council falls under the Nordic Council of Ministers in terms of social and health policy,
  but it plays an advisory role for all sectors in the Nordic Council of Ministers.
• The Council consists of 16 experts, half of whom are experts appointed by the governments
  of the Nordic countries and half by the countries’ disability organisations.
• In addition to the Disability Council being consulted as required, it may, on its own initiative, raise questions and tasks that are considered important in Nordic cooperation in the area of disability.
• The Disability Council has, among other things, the task of following up on the Nordic Programme for Co-operation on Disability Issues 2023–2027. The annual plan is coordinated in dialogue with the country that holds the presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers. In 2023, Iceland holds the presidency.

The Nordic Council of Ministers’ work on accessibility and inclusion

The Nordic Council of Ministers works systematically to enhance the disability perspective in all relevant policy areas. Work to integrate disability perspectives into Nordic government cooperation involves raising awareness of, integration of and follow-up on disability perspectives in policy areas, as well as internal work on accessibility within the Nordic Council of Ministers’ secretariats and institutions.

The Nordic Council of Ministers is therefore working to improve accessibility and awareness of the disability perspective. The Nordic Council of Ministers presents an annual report about how the disability perspective is integrated into its various activities and policy areas. The latest report shows that in a majority of areas, initiatives are being taken that in various ways highlight needs and promote opportunities for the participation of people with disabilities, not least in terms of accessibility and universal design.

• The majority of the policy areas that were followed up mention persons with disabilities, accessibility and/or universal design in their policy documents.
• In almost all policy and operational areas that were followed up, different types of meetings, projects and other activities are funded to promote inclusion by highlighting the situation or improving accessibility and/or living conditions for people with disabilities.

Annual report 2022

Annual report 2021

Annual report 2020

Annual report 2019

Annual report 2017

Annual report 2016

First report 2015

Find out more about the Nordic Council of Ministers’ action plan for collaboration on disabilities.