Pedro Sánchez attends the approval of the constitutional reform that extends the rights of people with disabilities

After the reading of the communication from Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament on the constitutional reform, the President of the Government of Spain signed the document with the new wording of Article 49, which was then signed by the King. The ceremony, held in the 'Salón de Audiencias' was also attended by the President of the Lower House of Parliament, Francina Armengol; the President of the Upper House of Parliament, Pedro Rollán; the President of the Constitutional Court, Cándido Conde-Pumpido and the President of the General Council of the Judiciary, Vicente Guilarte, as representatives of the powers of the State.

The amendment to Article 49 of the Constitution removes the term "physically, sensory and mentally handicapped" and replaces it with "persons with disabilities" and extends the rights of these citizens. The final wording of the article shall therefore read as follows:

"Article 49

1. Persons with disabilities exercise the rights provided for in this Title in conditions of real and effective freedom and equality. The special protection necessary for this exercise shall be regulated by law.

2. The public authorities shall promote policies that guarantee the full personal autonomy and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in universally accessible environments. They shall also encourage the participation of their organisations, under the terms established by law. Particular attention will be paid to the specific needs of women and children with disabilities.

The Plenary of the Lower House of Parliament approved the reform in an extraordinary session held on 18 January with 312 votes in favour and 32 against. The initiative was referred to the Upper House of Parliament without any amendments and was approved in an extraordinary plenary session on 25 January.

The first social reform of the Constitution

Today's amendment is the third to the 1978 Constitution and the first of a social nature. It satisfies a demand that has been questioned for twenty years by the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities (CERMI).

The reform will enter into force on the same day that the official text is published in the Official State Gazette (BOE).

Non official translation