FIMITIC

Copenhagen, 6th March 2012 /// The leaders of the European Disability Forum gathered on the 3^rd and 4^th of March in the capital of Denmark for their board meeting.

14 March 2012 /// During the past three months, the European Commission ran a public consultation “with a view to a European Accessibility Act”. It is important for the disability movement to express the vision of all persons with disabilities on such an important legislation. A wide consultation has been set up within EDF membership and the final details of our answer have been discussed by the leaders of the disability movement during EDF board meeting earlier this month.

• 112 ratifications of the Convention
• 153 signatories to the Convention

Optional Protocol to the Convention:

• 64 ratifications of the Optional Protocol
• 90 signatories to the Optional Protocol

Mauritania ratified the Convention and its Optional Protocol on 3 April 2012.

Bulgaria ratified the Convention on 22 March 2012.

Mile Stojkoski is a person with physical disability who runs a marathon in his wheelchair 3500 km long through 15 countries in Europe finishing at the olympic stadium gates in London. His tour began on March 15th in Macedonia and lasts till the Olympic Games official start in London on July 27th 2012.

20 April 2012 /// Under the auspices of the upcoming Cyprus EU Presidency, starting in July, EDF together with the Cyprus Confederation of Organisations of the Disabled, met Ms Sotiroula Charalambous the Cyprus Minister of Labour & Social Insurance in order to discuss the priorities of the disability movement. Ms Charalambous expressed her strong interest in disability issues.

> CYPRUS EU PRESIDENCY

On the eve of the launch of the European Year on Active Ageing and solidarity between Generations, the EY2012 Coalition presents its joint Manifesto and Road Map and urges all relevant actors at local, national and European level to seize the momentum of the European Year 2012 to commit to creating an age-friendly European Union that will allow everyone to live, learn, work and age with dignity.

On 12th of January, a French court found the British low-cost airline Easyjet guilty of discriminating against three disabled passengers in 2008 and 2009. The French organisation representing people with disabilities Association des Paralysés de France (APF) and the European Disability Forum (EDF) as well as the French National Disability Council (CFHE) welcome this important decision taken by a French court and based on the EU regulation.

May Peace and Happiness be with you at this holy Christmas season and always.

FIMITIC is thanking you for the cooperation in the interest of persons with physical disability.

Best wishes for the New Year 2012!

The report contains the views of a wide platform of DPOs, NGOs representing persons with disabilities and other organisations or individuals working with people with disabilities. This report covers the main areas of life of people with disabilities that are affected by legislation or practices that violate the respective articles of the Convention. Some crucial recommendations for the Czech Republic that emerge from the report are:

The National Association for Persons with Neuromotor Disabilities from Romania, AHNR – Asociatia Handicapatilor Neuromotori din Romania, developed its activities both at the national and local level.