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).
The Essl Foundation, the World Future Council and Bank Austria are working together to organize an International Conference on January 22-23, 2012, Vienna, Austria on future just policies which successfully implement the rights of people with disabilities.
One of the greatest experts on Independent Living, John Evans, uses every opportunity to warn people with disabilities, policymakers and other stakeholders about the effects of the cuts in public spending that are going on. In many European countries governments take inhuman, irrational and contra productive decisions to cut budgets that are necessary to make Independent Living possible for people with disabilities.
The freedom drive itself is of course an excellent opportunity for lobbying a resolution like this. The freedom drivers used this opportunity very well and asked their MEPs (Member of the European Parliament) to support this resolution. In several individual and group meetings we explained the devastating effects of cuts and austerity measures on personal assistance and community-based services, to our European political leaders. We asked our MEPs to support our resolution in every way they can. The same matter was brought up in the Disability Intergroup meeting. In total we reached over 75 MEPs from about all different European member states, made them aware of the necessity and urgency of a European resolution like we propose and asked them to fully support it. Some freedom drivers already had follow up communication or meetings with MEPs back in their own countries or regions.
