Presenting  the european project team for the supporting disabled young people to become future leaders of the independent living movement programme

The project will entail a weeklong study session at the Council of Europe with the purpose of encouraging and supporting disabled young people to advocate for human rights in their countries and at European level. Participants will have an opportunity to gain a better understanding of disability issues and acquire skills to promote the views of other disabled young  people from their countries. The project team consists of 5 members who have the responsibility for choosing who will  attend the study session at the Council of Europe.

Miro Griffits – has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and is currently doing a Masters in Disability Studies. He runs his own company, which advises and consults on all issues to do with Disability Equality.  His work involves advising, negotiating and training, from government departments to charities and small regional networks. He is also a member of Equality2025 – the United Kingdom Government Advisory Body for Disability Issues.

Zara Todd – has a degree in psychology and a Masters in Central and Eastern European studies. She works for a Disabled Peoples Organisation called ALLFIE (the Alliance for Inclusive Education) supporting and training a group of  disabled young people to become researchers. Before that, she has worked with a number of disabled children’s organisations working on participation and involvement. Zara has worked on policy and campaign work including advising government, since the age of 11 both in the UK and internationally. Currently she is setting up a website with a friend in New Zealand to help disabled activists under 30 connect and share knowledge internationally.

Embla Augustsdottir – is a 21 year old who would describe herself as a disability activist. She became interested in disability and gender studies at the age of 17, when she first heard about the social model of disability and she has always been interested in looking at gender and disability studies together and how they affect others. At the moment she is the chair of an Independent Living Cooperative in Iceland.

Peter Kichashki – is 22 years old and works as a Co-ordinator for ENIL activities in Southern Europe. Besides working for ENIL Peter is a Law student. He is also very active in disability rights campaigns and has led several dozen cases in front of the Bulgarian Protection against Discrimination Committee. He likes to describe himself as an expert in the anti-discrimination field.

Danči Maraž – works as Co-ordinator for ENIL Eastern group, which started in 2010. He studied at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ljubljana, from where he graduated in 2007 with an assessment on analysis of networking within ASEF (Europe – Asia Foundation). He is also very active when human rights need to be defended.

This time we would like to tell you about about what has been going on over the  past few months in connection with our Independent Living programme. At the end of last year after a long battle lobbying politicians and raising public awareness, we finally succeeded in changing the Law on Ownership Transformation of the Slovenian Lottery, which changes the composition of the Council of the Foundation. The Foundation  funds disability and humanitarian organisations in  Slovenia from concession funds from the Slovenian Lottery. With this change we have succeeded in breaking the monopoly held by the traditional disability organisations  which are united in the National Council of Disability Organisations, and who previously had an absolute majority in the Council of FIHO.

This monopoly allowed  non-transparent and discriminatory distribution of public funds that were supposed to be earmarked. In strong support of our arguments concerning the admissibility of such behavior there were also several judgments of corruption found by  the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption and the Court of Audit. Despite the powerful propaganda by the NSIOS that the proposed changes will decrease the amount of money available for disabled people and their attempts to hold a referendum on the issue, they have been unsuccessfuland MPs overwhelmingly supported the changes. This means that a battle was won, but the war is not over yet.

The new government has started out by accelerating  austerity measures in all areas of society. Our main concern and fear stems from the fact that with the end of this year our  Independent Living programme  and contracts with Personal Assistants will expire. This is a total of 95 Personal Assistants. It was previously ontended that  the Law on Personal Assistance would come into force in January 2013, but it is now  clear that this will not happen. Our assumption, that the Law as it is written is not feasible  has been confirmed once again. Half of the articles in the draft Law are related to the Law on Long-Term Care, which is complex, expensive and provides for the introduction of a new special tax. As you can imagine,  these days new taxes are not popular, and therefore the politicians will not be breaking their heads with such issues (problems).

That is why YHD decided that we will not weep and wait over what will happen, but we will take matters into our own hands. So, we have decided to take our own proposals for the Law on Personal Assistance out of the drawer. In Slovenia, we have the Law on Referendum and Civil Initiative, which allows the filing of  proposed laws into Parliamentary procedures if 5000 signatures can be collected at the administrative units. The signatures have to be gathered within 60 days. We believe that if we work together and have the appropriate media support, raising awareness of the importance of this law for our independence, that we can achieve our goal. At the same time we will also develop a plan B in case the law is not passed and does not come into force in January 2013. We will also put pressure on the relevant Government department, to put in place interim measures that will allow the smooth and seamless  implementation of Independent Living programmes for the future.

As you can see we will have a very lively and active spring, to secure for us a more peaceful autumn. And finally as our motto goes: “Nothing should surprise us.” We will keep you updated on  what happens, in the meantime keep your fingers crossed.

1. Three CIL members (from Sombor, Smederevo and Leskovac) are on different lists for local parliament elections in May 2012

The impact of having Gordana Rajkov as the first disabled MP has led more disabled people to become involved with politics, initially at a local level. Rajkov has influenced the disability movement and policy development at both national and level level, promoting the idea that  “disability could be the investment – not a burden”.

CIL members – Julijana Catalinac from Sombor, Dusko Savic from Smederevo and Svetislav Marjanovic from Leskovac are on the lists of three political parties and have very good chances to become members of local city councils. There are four other DPOs in other Serbian cities who have become politically active for the next elections in May 2012.

2. As a member of the National Umbrella Organisation CIL initiated the signing of protocols of cooperation with political parties

As the May 2012 elections approached,  CIL Serbia initiated the signing of protocols of cooperation with major political parties in Serbia. The protocol provides for implementation of all adopted laws, strategies and interstate documents that are important for the equality of disabled people. These include in particular the Convenction on the Rights of Disabled People,  the Law on Employment and Rehabilitation of Disabled People, the Law on Social Protection, the Law on Prohibiting Discrimination of Disabled People and the Strategy to Improve the Status of Disabled People 2007-2015.

Political parties should also support the adoption of new legislation to improve the status of disabled people and their organisations, including in particular a  Law on Disabled Peoples Organisations, a Law on Serbian Sign Language and a Law on People with Sightloss and Guide Dogs. A new Strategy to Improve the Status of Disabled People will also be introduced for 2016 – 2015.of Improvement of PWDs 2016-2025 will be delivered too.

Last time five major political parties signed the Protocol of cooperation.

3. CIL is organising a series of training workshops on advocacy to assist with the implementation of new Laws on Social Protection for Disabled Peoples Organisations
   

CIL is organising a series of training workshops on advocacy to assist with the implementation of new laws on Social Protection. This is important for all future service providers especially for those who will be involved in independent living support and deinstitutionalisation programmes. Last year we trained 18 Disabled Peoples Organisations and this year we will introduce 15 to the aims and the content of the Law on Social Protection and to the potential role for organisations in  service provision in their local communities.

This course will also strengthen their capacities both in terms of advocacy and in the creation of concrete advocacy plans for major social services reorganisations  needed in their respective communities.

4. CIL Serbia and its local branches participated in public works as future service providers of Personal Assistance services in nine local communities in Serbia

All nine CIL branches applied to the Public Works programme to run Personal Assistance services in their local communities. The National Employment Office and the Ministry for Economy funded this program that will help old as well as new users through the transition period while they await the regulatory mechanisms that will come into place with the newly adopted Law on Social Protection. Those mechanisms will more closely define and designate the specific roles and tasks of service providers, service users, local community and the State. So far through the Public Works programme CIL Serbia provides a service for more than 100 disabled people throughout Serbia. This time each CIL branch is applying to their local Employment Offices to engage  Personal Assistants for a set number of disabled people.

Source: http://www.coface-eu.org/en/Publications/The-Family-Dimension-of-the-UNCRPD/

On the occasion of the International Day of Families COFACE will present together with Ádám Kósa (MEP, Chair of the Disability Intergroup) the new COFACE publication, The family dimension of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities at the European Parliament in Brussels on 15 May 2012, from 16:00 to 17:30.

Background information

With this publication, COFACE aims to highlight the family dimension of the Convention, contribute to its dissemination, support the implementation of the European Commission’s European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 as well as the European Parliament’s report on mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities drafted by Ádám KÓSA MEP. It also aims at empowering European citizens living with disabilities and their families.

May 15, the International Day of Families is devoted to mark the relevance that the international community places on family issues as a fundamental unit of our society, as well as to highlight concerns about their situation in many parts of the world.

This day provides also an opportunity to reflect on the work started in 1994 and to celebrate the importance of families, people and societies around the world.

COFACE is delighted to invite you to attend this conference which builds on the experience of COFACE’s Disability Working Group as well as the European Parliament Disability Intergroup, discussing and debating the UN CRPD and its family dimension.

Please feel free to disseminate this information within your membership and contact details!

Registration is free and will be open until 7th of May. To obtain more information and register for this event, please visit:

http://www.coface-eu.org/en/Events/Forthcoming-events/

For further inquiry, please contact: secretariat@coface-eu.org

We look forward welcoming you in Brussels for a fruitful debate!

The COFACE Team

International Network for Young Disabled People

We are two disabled young people, planning to set up an international online network for disabled young people aged 16-30, to network, skill and knowledge share. We believe that by providing an interactive space for disabled young people to do so will not only allow young disabled people from around the world to share and in turn, learn new knowledge and skills, but also that it will empower disabled young people to connect and create positive change in their communities. We intend this network to be built and run by disabled young people, for disabled young people.

We are contacting you because of your expertise and we would very much appreciate your input. We have created a questionnaire to help us design the site, which can be found at http://kwiksurveys.com?u=iydpn. The survey is only 9 short questions and will close on 27 May 2012.

We also have a Facebook page that we will be using to keep in touch with people until the site is launched https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Network-for-Young-Disabled-People/345625542148113

Please forward this information on to anyone you think maybe interested in this project.

Erin and Zara

The Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) had its two day annual meeting in Vienna. The annual meeting brings together members of the Agency’s network to work in partnership on fundamental rights. This 5th FRP meeting aimed to:

• encourage a European debate on fundamental rights among different civil society organisations;
• facilitate knowledge exchange and the sharing of of promising practices among Fundamental Rights Platform participants;
• inform the work of the FRA about challenges and promising initiatives on the ground;
• create opportunities for networking and further cooperation between civil society, the FRA and other actors.

Elected members to the Advisory Panel 2012-2013

One of the main events of this year’s meeting was the election to the new Advisory Panel. The Advisory Panel supports the work of the Director of the FRA in organising and coordinating the Fundamental Rights Platform (FRP) and inputs into the preparation of relevant meetings and events. 

The Panel is also a tool for ensuring the  good running of the Platform, suggesting, where necessary, adjustments and improvements to processes and procedures, and thus facilitating a vibrant dialogue between the Platform and the Director of the Agency. There were 24 candidates of which Jamie Bolling, the executive director of ENIL – the European Network on Independent Living was one. Jamie was supported by ENIL and EDF and was happy to be re-elected to the panel along with: Dominika Bychawska-Siniarska – Helsinki Foundation on Human Rights, Roger Kiska – Alliance Defense Fund, Allan Leas – European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), Catherine Lynch – Irish Network Against Racism, Evelyne Paradis – International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Intersex Association – European Region (ILGA-Europe).

Source: Stephen Naysmith – Herald Scotland

A SCOTTISH campaigner will this morning (2nd April 2012) tell the Human Rights Council of the UN that the UK Government is in breach of its human rights obligations to disabled people.

In Geneva today, Dr Pauline Nolan, Policy Officer for Inclusion Scotland, will submit evidence to a preliminary hearing ahead of a planned review of the human rights record of 14 states, including the UK.

On behalf of the Campaign for A Fair Society – a coalition of more than 70 Scottish charities – Dr Nolan will warn the cumulative impact of welfare reform and cuts to benefits affecting disabled people will mean their ability to live a full life is impaired. In particular, she will argue that welfare changes undermine their right to be included in the community.

The campaign also claims disabled people are being denied access to justice when they try to appeal against these cuts to their benefits.

Dr Nolan said she aimed to equip the UN with a series of recommendations and questions to put to the UK Government when its representatives appear in front of the Human Rights Council in May.

She added: “Disability organisations, disabled people and the Parliament’s own Joint Committee on Human Rights concluded that these cuts will have a devastating cumulative impact on the livelihoods of disabled people.

“Further cuts are taking place to local authority services they receive. Taken together, all these cuts are severely undermining the human rights of disabled people.”

She claims half of the £18 billion of cuts to be made under welfare reform will fall on households containing disabled people, adding: “These cuts will push hundreds of thousands of disabled people and their families into poverty and thousands will be made homeless.”

Jim Elder-Woodward, of the Independent Living in Scotland project, said: “I am really pleased that Dr Nolan is going to Geneva to tell the UN just how this Coalition Government is systematically undermining the rights of disabled people by cutting their benefits and services.

“The combined voices of disabled people have either been silenced or misrepresented by the UK Government in their resolution to make disabled people suffer over 50% of the total £18bn in benefit cuts.”

Norma Curran, of Values Into Action Scotland, added: “These welfare reforms are devastating people’s lives. It’s not acceptable to challenge the human rights of people on the grounds of race, sex, language, or religion, so why does the UK Government think that it is acceptable to breach the human rights of disabled people?”

Stephen Naysmith – Herald Scotland

Martin Naughton, Co-Executive Director of ENIL and Minister Phil Hogan TD. at the launch of ABLE Tourism on the 12th April 2012 in Dublin,

The new Q Mark in relation to ABLE Tourism was launched on 12^th April 2012 by Minister Phil Hogan TD in Dublin, Ireland.

Able Tourism is the new Q Mark for accessibility created by Excellence Ireland Quality Association, the guardians of the Q Mark, in association with Fáilte Ireland. Their aim is to become global trendsetters by turning Ireland into the first ABLE destination in the world.

The Q Mark for accessibility ( ABLE) will be awarded to hotels, self-catering accommodation and caravan and camping complexes that have achieved the Q Mark standard in the key areas of ABLE Employees, ABLE customers and ABLE built environment.

Tourists who log onto www.ABLEireland.ie to access ABLE destinations will be guaranteed to have accessible bedrooms, bathrooms, showers and kitchens. They will also benefit from telephones with induction cables and emergency accessible supports, such as vibrating pillows or personal alarms. Other services that will be provided include accessible car parks and routes into premises and easily identified lifts with accessible call buttons and wide doors that accommodate wheelchairs.

For more information on ABLE Tourism please visit their website here

TANDIS (Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Information System) was developed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The ODIHR serves as a collection point for information related to tolerance and non-discrimination on the basis of information received from the participating States, and in co-operation with civil society and intergovernmental organisations. TANDIS was developed by the ODIHR’s Tolerance and Non-Discrimination department in order to share and promote practices and initiatives and to provide information on issues related to tolerance and non-discrimination throughout the OSCE region.

TANDIS gives access to:

• Information received from the OSCE participating States, specialized institutions and other organisations
• Country pages providing information on country initiatives, legislation, national specialised bodies, statistics and other information
• Thematic pages with information related to different key issues
• International standards and instruments
• Information from the intergovernmental organisations including country reports and annual reports.

For more information on TANDIS please visit the website here