FIMITIC

The signature campaign aims to collect at least 1 000 000 citizens’ signatures to combat discrimination in all aspects of the lives of disabled citizens in Europe.

The European Union must respond to the call of at least 1 million citizens.  This is stated in the draft European Union Constitutional Treaty. We must not miss this opportunity to raise our voices.

The campaign “One million for Disability” runs from 23 January to 3 October 2007

On 4 October 2007, the signatures will be officially handed out to the European Commission and the European Parliament. At the same time, a gathering of disabled persons, their families, friends and allies will take place in Brussels, in the heart of the European Institutions area.

Visit the petition site at 1million4disability.eu, click here

Read EDF Declaration on disability rights in Europe, click here

New York, January 29, 2007

The plight of persons with disabilities during the Nazi era will be remembered at the second annual observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, to be held at the United Nations General Assembly Hall on Monday, 29 January at 10:30 a.m.

The observance, organized by the Holocaust and the United Nations outreach programme, will be held under the theme of "Remembrance and Beyond". In remembering the victims of the Holocaust, the event will highlight the role of youth in carrying forth the torch of remembrance to remind the world of the dangers posed by hatred, bigotry, racism and prejudice.

The upcoming European Year of Equal Opportunities for All will be celebrated across the European Union in 2007 to draw the attention of European countries to the problems created by discrimination and the opportunities offered by diversity. The Year will promote equal opportunities and raise awareness about the rights of everyone to equal treatment, and about the benefits of diversity.
The celebration will be marked by hundreds of different activities staged throughout the European Union with all 27 EU Member States taking part.
The main aim is to reach out to the general public and therefore most of the Year's activities will be held on a local, regional, or national level. This will be supported and complemented by several pan-European activities such as a campaign on European antidiscrimination policies and legislation or the presentation of the results of a Eurobarometer survey about European citizens' attitudes towards and knowledge discrimination and inequality issues.

The European Year of Equal Opportunities for All will be formally launched with a big opening conference in Berlin from January 30th-31st, chaired by the German Presidency.

For more information on the European Year, please click here.

Source: Stop Discrimination Newsletter December 2006

The new Human Rights Convention includes alternative approaches for improving the effective enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for people with disabilities.

FIMITIC welcomes the Convention, stressing its all-inclusive nature; while at the same time urging States to ratify the Convention.
On March 31, 2007 the Convention will be open for signature and ratification of the 192 UN-Member States.


“We celebrate and welcome the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which recognizes that disability is a human rights issue, this Convention is an example of unity and cooperation for the benefit of all” declares the President of FIMITIC, Nigel Brander.

Brussels, December 5, 2006

At the conference organized by the European Commission in close cooperation with the European Disability Forum and the active participation of the European Youth Forum young disabled and non-disabled people from all over Europe addressed their concerns and demands and took part in deliberations on their rights and opportunities, integration of disability in European youth policy and programmes as well as access to employment and general participation in society.

E-Accessibility

Statement by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

Access to information and communication technologies creates opportunities to everyone in society, but perhaps no-more so than for persons with disabilities. No longer do the societal barriers of prejudice, infrastructure, and inaccessible formats stand in the way of participation. When available to everyone, information technologies foster individuals to reach their full potential, and for persons with disabilities it allows them to play their part in society’s development.

The current revised text of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities was released in additional languages on the UN Enable website as part of an Ad Hoc Committee Interim Report on its 8th Session. This report is now available in six languages at the following links:

• English

The logo for the 2007 European Year of Equal opportunities for All has been revealed. The design – three figures side-by-side with the EU flag – is available in two different, vivid colour combinations, as well as in black and white for print. The logo and the guidelines for its use will soon be available for download from the Year´ s website.

Bonn, August 26, 2006

Delegates and representatives of the global disability movement were working hard to bring to a conclusion the draft Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities when they met at the 8th Ad Hoc Committee Convention meeting at the United Nations in New York from 14 to 25 August 2006.

Already in the negotiating phase FIMITIC was involved in the development process towards a successful end with agreement on a new convention to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. This was possible thanks formal and informal expertise and contributions delivered on the consultation of the draft text concepts and substance as well as by active international cooperation done.

At the United Nations in New York FIMITIC was represented by its President Nigel Brander, member of the Irish governmental delegation to the United Nations Ad Hoc Committee.

UNITED NATIONS, 26 July -- Improving access to new information technology for persons with disabilities will be the focus of this year’s International Day of Disabled Persons, the United Nations announced today.

The Day, which is marked on 3 December, seeks to promote the integration of people with disabilities into society.