The first social reform of the Constitution came into force this Saturday after the Official State Gazette published the modification of article 49 to replace the term “disabled” with “people with disabilities.”
The reform also includes recognition of the specific needs of women and minors with disabilities, and obliges public authorities to commit to the full autonomy of people with disabilities.
On Thursday, Felipe VI sanctioned a reform of the Constitution for the first time since he became head of State, in the Audience Hall of the Zarzuela Palace, in the presence of the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the highest representatives of the legislative branch and of the judiciary.
This is the third modification of the Magna Carta since 1978 and the Minister of Justice, Presidency and Relations with the Cortes, Félix Bolaños, has shown in a message on the social network X his “pride” for this milestone.
This is, for now, the only agreement that the head of the central Executive, Sánchez, and the president of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, have closed. It was at a meeting at the end of December.
The two majority formations also have pending the renewal of the governing body of the judges, the General Council of the Judiciary, whose mandate has expired five years ago. The European Commission is helping to reach an agreement after popular requests.
With the majority support of the groups in Congress and the Senate, except Vox, article 49, specifically dedicated to the protection of people with disabilities, is worded in this way in the Constitution: “People with disabilities exercise the rights provided for in this Title under conditions of real and effective freedom and equality. The special protection necessary for said exercise will be regulated by law,” says point one.
“Public powers will promote policies that guarantee full personal autonomy and social inclusion of people with disabilities, in universally accessible environments. Likewise, they will encourage the participation of their organizations, in the terms established by law. The specific needs of women and minors with disabilities will be particularly addressed,” reads the second.
