Tenerife Disability Council Faces Criticism Over Two Decades of Inactivity

The Island Council for Persons with Disabilities in Tenerife is once again at the center of a political row following complaints from the advocacy group "Queremos Movernos" (We Want to Move). The group points out that this body—meant to represent 12% of the island's population—remains effectively paralyzed, despite regulations that should have seen it fully operational nearly 20 years ago.

The legal framework for the council was published in the Official Gazette of the Province on September 3, 2004. The rules gave the council six months to get up and running, a deadline that passed in March 2005. According to the association, there is no public record of the council ever functioning since then. With no meetings, minutes, or working committees, the group argues that the council has become a hollow symbol, stripped of its intended role as a platform for dialogue.

This lack of a formal channel for participation is a serious concern. Ana Mengíbar, spokesperson for "Queremos Movernos," warns that without this forum, the group cannot help shape essential policies on accessibility and inclusion. Without a way to monitor and coordinate these efforts, their concerns go unheard, making it difficult to implement strategies that protect their fundamental rights.

It is contradictory that the Institute for Social and Socio-sanitary Care (IASS) website still lists the council as the primary tool for defining social policy, while the reality is one of complete silence. This lack of transparency not only ignores island regulations but also denies people with disabilities in Tenerife a vital democratic tool to influence the Cabildo’s agenda. Ultimately, the situation reveals a stark gap between what is promised on paper and the actual delivery of social welfare on the island.