The city of Logroño has hosted the opening of the CERMI Rural 2025 Convention this morning, a key event to put the rights, needs, and proposals of people with disabilities living in rural areas at the center of public debate.
The president of CERMI La Rioja, Manuela Muro, acted as the host of the inaugural session, which takes place on July 3 and 4 and was attended by the president of CERMI Estatal, Luis Cayo Pérez Bueno, and the president of the Government of La Rioja, Gonzalo Capellán de Miguel, who officially declared this forum on the rights of people with disabilities in rural areas inaugurated.
Luis Cayo Pérez denounced that «living in rural areas is an added punishment for many people with disabilities» due to the lack of support, infrastructure, and services, which creates environmental pressure to leave the villages.
He called for coordinated political action at the local, regional, national, and even European level to reverse this situation: «It’s time for this issue to be fully included in the political agenda.»
Gonzalo Capellán emphasized that La Rioja, with 169 of its 174 municipalities classified as rural, is the ideal place to host this national reflection.
«Being here with you today is the best way to create public policies, hand in hand with those who know the issues,» he said, highlighting the importance of acting with proximity, realism, and collaboration between administrations and civil society.
The opening presentation was given by the Minister of Health and Social Policies, María Martín Díez de Baldeón, who focused on the Rioja model of disability care.
She advocated for a political action based on prevention, coordination between systems, and institutional closeness, stating that «we don’t need more laws to know what needs to be done: we need to work hand in hand with associations and do it with actions.»
RURAL DISABILITY PROFILE IN SPAIN
Consultant Martha Yolanda Quezada García presented the study «People with disabilities in rural areas in Spain,» promoted by CERMI Estatal with the support of CERMI La Rioja. The report warns of a greater structural vulnerability resulting from the intersection of disability and rurality, which particularly affects women and older people.
According to the data, 22% of the total number of people with disabilities live in rural areas – nearly one million people – of which 55% are women and 37% are over 80 years old. Among the main indicators reflected in the study are: low employment rate (24.3%), a significant educational gap (only 11.8% have higher education), accessibility barriers in housing and public buildings, mobility difficulties (45.5% have trouble moving around), pronounced digital divide (40.5% struggle with ICT use), and high levels of unwanted loneliness (affecting 50.6% of the group).
The study proposes a strategy for inclusive rural development that includes proximity services, itinerant care, improved accessible transportation, combating loneliness, promoting employment and entrepreneurship, integrating disability in all rural policies, and strengthening associative networks.
It also emphasizes applying a gender perspective and combating the various forms of discrimination faced by women with disabilities. Access the full report in accessible PDF format: The Convention continues with presentations, experience panels, and reflection spaces dedicated to outlining a new model of inclusion for people with disabilities in rural areas.
