New state ombudsman prioritizes accessibility, calls UN convention her 'bible'

Katja Lüke, the newly appointed state ombudsman for the rights of people with disabilities in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, has declared accessibility as the core principle guiding her work. She views the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as her fundamental guide, or "bible," in her new role.

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Inclusion is a cross-cutting issue that affects all departments of a state government.

Lüke, who will oversee efforts across all ministries in the state, stressed that inclusion is a cross-cutting issue affecting all government departments. "People with disabilities are affected by all aspects of daily life, just like people without disabilities," she stated in an interview with the German Press Agency.

She identified key areas of focus, including education, employment, housing, health, digitalization, and leisure and mobility. For Lüke, accessibility serves as the unifying element for all these aspects. "If you are looking for a common thread for all of this, then it is accessibility," she explained, expressing her hope to effectively manage these diverse priorities.

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People with disabilities are affected by all aspects of daily life, just like people without disabilities.

A significant priority for Lüke is the "implementation" of existing commitments. She plans to continuously assess where barriers and shortcomings exist and how they can be addressed, noting the state government's commitment to these goals in its coalition agreement. The agreement between the CDU and SPD parties outlines plans to evaluate and further develop the state's action plan for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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If you are looking for a common thread for all of this, then it is accessibility.

Lüke brings a wealth of experience to her new position. Having studied social work and social pedagogy, she previously worked as a consultant for diversity and inclusion at the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) in Frankfurt, a role from which she resigned for her new appointment. Lüke herself has been a wheelchair user for nearly 30 years following an illness, giving her a personal understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. She noted that approximately 335,000 people, or about eight percent of Rhineland-Palatinate's population, have a recognized disability, a figure expected to grow with an aging society.

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The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is, of course, my bible as the state ombudsman for disabilities.