FIMITIC

16 December 2009 - Accessible transport is a vital condition for the implementation of one of the four freedoms granted by the European Union to its citizens: the free movement within its borders, for European residents with disabilities. Tomorrow 17 December, the Council will be discussing a very necessary regulation about bus passengers’ rights. Six countries are not in favor of improving the travel conditions for persons with disabilities. Two recent stories in the news underline how crucial this regulation is for persons with disabilities.

 In the light of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the European Disability Forum (EDF) joins the struggle against all forms of gender violence, to which thousands of women in the European Union and worldwide fall victim. All forms of sterilization without full and informed consent must be seen as violence.

Stockholm, October 19, 2009. The European Disability Forum, the voice of 65 million European citizens with disabilities, met in the Swedish capital to adopt the proposal for the European Disability Pact. “This policy instrument ensures real mainstreaming of disability in the European Union by promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and by developing a strong agenda engaging both the EU institutions and Member States” announced Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the organisation.

The Czech Republic will take over the EU Presidency from France in January 2009 until June 2009.

During a breakfast policy meeting of the European Policy Centre, Her Excellency Milena Vicenová, Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic,  announced that the three "E"s – the economy, energy and external relations – will be the Presidency’s priorities.

On the 4th of December, the European Commission adopted two proposals for regulations on the rights of bus and maritime passengers, long awaited by the European Disability Forum as passengers with disabilities of these transport modes still do not enjoy similar rights as air and rail passengers do.

Both proposals include specific rights for passengers with disabilities, which is particularly welcome by the European Disability Forum.

In 2006, the Council of Europe adopted a Disability Action Plan 2006-2015 to be implemented in the 46 member countries of the Council of Europe.   The Plan consists of 15 key action lines covering all aspects of the life of disabled persons, setting out some 40 objectives and more than 160 specific actions to be carried out by member states. 

December 10th marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  On this historic occasion, we should reaffirm the fundamental principles that its inspired group of framers articulated.  In the Universal Declaration they recalled the “disregard and contempt for human rights” that led to actions which “outraged the conscience of mankind” and they heralded the “advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want,” proclaiming this as “the highest aspiration of

New York, United Nations: On November 3, 2008 the first Conference of States Parties on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) elected the new Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will be in charge of monitoring the implementation of the CRPD.  The Committee comprises seven men and five women, of which nine are persons with disabilities.

The 2008 theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities is "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Dignity and justice for all of us". 

The manifesto calls on politicians to address disability and to assure equal access for disabled voters

Brussels, 3 December 2008 – European Disability Forum (EDF) made public its 2009 European Election Manifesto “Nothing about Disabled People, Without Disabled People” today, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.