FIMITIC

As all people of good will around the world unite to recognize United Nations Human Rights Day 2012, The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) joins its voice, thought and prayer to the call for all human beings to be accorded basic human rights, including the right of profound dignity from the moment of conception to natural death.  Further, we note the need for a reality where all persons will have access to what they require in order to make their unique contribution to our world. 

Brussels and New York, 6 December 2012 - Cooperation on eMobility standardization was the focus of discussion during a Transatlantic Roundtable organised by theEuropean Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which took place in Brussels on 28 and 29 November.

5 December 2012 - On the 5th of December, more than 450 delegates from organisations representing persons with disabilities (DPOs) from all over Europe met with European Parliament leaders, MEPs and EU decision-makers in order to discuss how Europe can ensure the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities in this time of crisis.

3 December 2012 - Today the European Commission released a legislative proposal on the accessibility of public websites. Once adopted by the European Parliament and by the Council, it will allow, by 2015, Europeans with disabilities to have equal access to information on websites and benefit from services provided online.

It is with deep regret that we have to announce that Marjan Kroflič died at the age of 75 after severe illness on November 6, 2012, in Slovenia. The funeral was held on Ljubljana's cemetery Žale on 14th of November.

29 August 2012 - With the 2012 London Paralympic Games only hours away from their torch-lighting ceremony, asenior United Nations official has lauded the sporting event for its celebration of inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

13 September 2012 /// The fifth session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP5) is taking place from 12 to 14 September 2012 at the UN Headquarters gathering the attention of the disability movement worldwide. Yannis Vardakastanis, President of EDF has participated at the opening as Chair of the International Disability Alliance (IDA).

Brussels, 4 October 2012 /// Disability is a cross-cutting issue, which should be mainstreamed in all EU policies. In these terms, EDF met today the Secretary General of the European Commission, Mrs Catherine Day, and the Directors General of the European Commission.

Brussels, 9 October 2012 /// Access conditions for persons with reduced mobility to transport as a whole need to be further improved while securing a sustainable business environment for the rail sector. This was the main message of a conference organized today by the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER), and co-moderated by the European Disability Forum (EDF), on the accessibility of rail transport for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility.

• Malta ratified the Convention on 10-10-2012
• Dominica ratified the Convention on 1-10-2012
• Dominica ratified the Optional Protocol on 1-10-2012
• Israel ratified the Convention on 28-9-2012

154 signatories to the convention since its opening for signature
90 signatories to the Optional Protocol since its opening for signature
125 ratifications and accessions to the Convention
74 ratifications and accessions of the Protocol