FIMITIC

Brussels, 1^st June 2011 - A delegation of the European Disability Forum led by its President, Yannis Vardakastanis, met with President of the European Commission Barroso in Brussels yesterday. This was the opportunity to discuss the next steps for disability in the EU.

23 May 2011 /// There are many barriers that need to be eliminated if persons with disabilities are to reach the goal of free movement. This, amongst other topics regarding ‘accessibility; will be discussed by the disability movement this weekend during EDF Annual General Assembly.

NEW YORK, 12 May – The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the first international human rights treaty of the twenty-first century. On 10 May, Colombia became the 100th country to ratify this Convention. In doing so, it joins the ranks of those countries that now support greater access, backed by their legal systems, for citizens with disabilities to fully participate in the lives of their communities, including the political process and health and education services.

Brussels, 15 April 2011 - Last week flight passenger Shuaib Chalklen was refused to board flight number LX353 London- Geneva on the grounds of his disability. The airlines motives for refusing this passenger stand in direct violation of EU law governing the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air.

31 March 2011 - The Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament met the Hungarian Presidency on 30 March 2011. MEP Ádám Kósa (Hungary, EPP) hosted the meeting, which focused on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. Vice President of EDF Ms Erzsébet Földesi and the Hungarian government representative Mr András László participated to the discussion.

The first European Fair of Youth and Human Rights will be held in Strasbourg, France from 19^th – 21^st March 2011, the theme of which is discrimination. The fair marks the end of a teacher training course on human rights that took place in 2010. 4000 children, including children with disabilities will attend.

More information

Following a request from the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, in order to support the work of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which was transferred by the International Disability Alliance, EDF consulted its members and gathered information on e-accessibility for persons with disabilities.

The Hungarian Presidency focuses on the creation of a citizen-friendly European Union; it also advocates EU citizens’ actual “access” to their fundamental rights laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To achieve this, every member state and its institutions should respect the Charter and promote its enforcement. This has also been a legal obligation of member states and EU institutions since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.

After more than two years of difficult and lengthy negotiations, the regulation on the rights of bus passengers was finally adopted by the European Parliament on the 15^th of February. The same text was endorsed by the Council two weeks earlier.

15 February 2011 - The EU wants to reduce early school leaving, as indicated in Europe 2020, the EU growth strategy for the next decade. Persons with disabilities represent 15% of the population of Member States: a focus on inclusive education and special needs would reduce school dropout rates. Nevertheless, the European Commission adopted the communication: “Tackling early school leaving” at the end of January and didn’t recommend anything about persons with disabilities.