In April 2021, Lucille entered the Dutch House of Representatives on behalf of the CDA. Her mission: to strengthen the position of people with disabilities in the Netherlands.
Politics
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Lucille’s portfolio includes disability policy, a highly important area for her. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which states that people with disabilities should be able to participate equally in society, was signed by the Dutch government in 2016. However, in her view, there was a lack of a strategy to achieve that equality. That’s why she advocates for a national, multi-year strategy that spans multiple cabinets, requiring every ministry to participate. Only then can true participation be achieved, ensuring that everyone can fully participate in all areas of life, from work to recreation.
Mission accomplished!
On October 20, 2022, during the budget debate of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), Lucille submitted a motion to establish such a strategy. The motion was initially discouraged by former minister Conny Helder (VVD) of VWS. However, with support from GroenLinks and PvdA, and significant lobbying behind the scenes, the motion was passed with broad support during a vote. The minister could no longer ignore it, and on February 9, 2024, it was announced that the government would start working on a national strategy to improve the position of people with disabilities. Mission accomplished!