FIMITIC

The universal popularity of sport and the physical, social and economic developmental benefits derived from it, make it an ideal tool for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities. On 27 June, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in collaboration with Achilles International and other stakeholders will organize an interactive panel discussion to help draw attention to the role of sport as a platform and catalyst for fostering the inclusion and well-being of persons with disabilities in society and development.

3 June 2011 – An initiative that has made hotels in Slovenia more accessible for people with disabilities and a project in Australia that allows people to volunteer to protect biodiversity are among the winners of United Nations awards aimed at encouraging innovation in tourism.
The 2011 Ulysses Awards – handed out last night in a ceremony in Vilamoura, Portugal – were given by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to a series of State institutions, private enterprises and non-profit organizations.

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.

On February 14, 2011, Dr. Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia, conferred the Order for Merits on the Federation of Disabled Workers of Slovenia for its successful accomplishments in the field of disabled persons protection during more than forty years of work.

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.