FIMITIC

Tuesday, 23 February 2010 - Slovenia is in the process of adopting the Law on Alignment of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. The deadline for public debate and suggestions expired in January 2010.

The Law covers the following areas:

• Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of disability;
• Measures to equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities, setting grounds for their responsibilities and obligations;
• Procedures in disputing cases of discrimination based on disability;
• Database management and data protection;
• Penal provisions.

Vác, Hungary, February 16, 2010 - It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Albert Caminada has died on February 16, 2010, in Vaduz. The funeral took place on last Friday. 

Albert Caminada was 88 years old. He is survived by his wife Emmi, two daughters and three sons, seven grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.

The FIMITIC Board extends its most sincere condolences to Albert Caminada´ s family and to the leaders and members of the Liechtenstein member association.

EDF participates in the public hearing organised in Brussels by the European Parliament on 22 February to discuss the EU accession to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. European Voice publishes today an article signed by EDF President Yannis Vardakastanis and Chairperson of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights Heidi Hautala to expressing a concern that millions of Europeans may have to wait years before they benefit from the EU's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities.

The Treaty of Lisbon came into force across the European Union on 1 December 2009. As well as helping to make an enlarged EU work more efficiently, the Treaty promises to make it easier to address major issues of the day and provide a boost to Europe’s social policy commitments.

In general terms, the Treaty paves the way for a more democratic and transparent EU. For example, the European Parliament has been given new decision-making powers, which means it has more of an influence on framing EU legislation and budgets than ever before.

The new European Commission took office last 10 February 2010, following the positive vote in the European Parliament on 9 February. The confidence vote was held in Strasbourg after a three month delay and a prolonged period of disagreement between the EU's two main institutions and after politician’s hearings.

In the frame of the 40 year´s anniversary of ZDIS, the Federation of Disabled Workers of Slovenia which theme was »DISABLED WORKERS –CREATORS OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES« an international conference on employability was organized with the contribution of FIMITIC at Spa Topolšica, in Slovenia, on 18 September 2009.

The title of the conference was »EXAMPLES OF GOOD PRAXIS AND INNOVATIVE MEASURES TO MAINTAN EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED WORKERS IN THE PRESENT ECONOMIC CRISIS«

29 January 2010 /// On 27 January 2009, the renewed Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament and the European Disability Forum toasted the New Year in Brussels at a very well-attended event. The new President of the Intergroup - for the first time a person with a disability himself, - and the disability movement presented the Disability Pact to a hundred of activists and 20 MEPs from various political groups and nationalities.

“The historic day for persons with disabilities”

 Yesterday and today (January 27 and 28, 2010), the Human Rights Council held its 13th special session under the title “The support of the HRC for the recovery process in Haiti after the earthquake of January 12, 2010: a human rights approach,” which has adopted a resolution that includes the following reference to persons with disabilities:

18 January 2010 /// Last Friday, Emil Boc, Prime Minister of Romania received the European Disability Forum to exchange views on how to reinforce the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the decision-making process at the national level.

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.