FIMITIC

United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) met in Geneva to discuss possible ways of working with the Article 9 of the Convention on accessibility. EDF took part in discussion which purpose was to let the opportunity for all stakeholders to give their viewpoints. Emphasis was put on the importance of standardisation and having laws in place.

European Disability Forum participated in the meeting about the situation and future of the collective campaign on the Equal Treatment Directive. The other organizations present were ILGA-Europe, the Social Platform, the European Youth Forum, the European Network Against Racism, the European Women’s Lobby, and the AGE Platform Europe. The report covers the work of the day, the main ideas floated, and conclusions.

23 September 2010 - The European Parliament has just adopted its employment guidelines, to be validated by the Council soon in October. The main EU headline target is to boost employment rate to 75% and reduce the number of people living in poverty and social exclusion by at least 20 million. To achieve that, Europe 2020 strategy has to make sure the labour market is accessible to everyone, including persons with disabilities. The European Disability Forum raised the question of reasonable accommodation at the workplace with European experts. Stig Langvad explains what means reasonable accommodation at the workplace.

21 September 2010 - End of September, the Council of Europe is expected to draft the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. Therefore EDF presents improvements to make sure women with disabilities will be taken into account in this important human rights text. Read on why gender dimension is important in disability and how EDF is coming across.

2 September 2010 - All 147 countries who signed the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities are meeting once a year to exchange views on how to put it into practice. The 3rd Conference of State Parties since the Convention entered into force in 2008 is held in New-York from 1 to 3 September 2010. EDF is proud to announce that two of its executive members are now part of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The European Parliament promotes equality of opportunity and encourages applications from women and men with disabilities for its traineeship programmes. In 2006 the European Parliament launched a specific traineeship programme for people with disabilities.

4 August 2010 - The European Disability Movement met the European Ombudsman to make sure rights of persons with disabilities will be better protected in Europe. Since 1995, the Ombudsman has to investigate complaints about the administration of the EU institutions. How does that work? Can he really improve the life of persons with disabilities in Europe?

Brussels, 27 July 2010 – The European Commission announces the launch of “Access●City Award”, the first European Award for Accessible Cities. This annual award aims to highlight the European cities that are taking the most effective and innovative action to improve their accessibility for disabled citizens.

It will celebrate and showcase the most successful initiatives that allow people with disabilities to participate fully in society. Accessibility is not difficult to implement, this is the initiative’s key message.

09 June 2010 - The European social affairs Ministers met 7-8 June in Luxembourg and adopted a resolution on the new European disability framework. Although the Council is calling for the inclusion of persons with disabilities by mainstreaming disability issues, the European Disability Forum (EDF) urges the Ministers to define concrete indications, targets and commitments to concretely improve the life of 65 millions Europeans with disabilities.

27 April 2010 - In case you don’t remember the 1million4disability campaign, 1 364 984 citizens are still waiting for an answer from the EU institutions. The European Parliament called yesterday for concrete and adequate actions from the European Commission.