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European Network on Independent Living

ENIL is a user-led network of disabled people, with members throughout Europe. Our mission is to advocate for Independent Living values, principles and practices: provision of personal assistance and other community supports and services, a barrier-free environment and adequate technical aids, together making full citizenship of disabled people possible.

Power chair user with microphone screaming with fist raised. Across the website, photos show ENIL members in everyday and activist settings. Some use wheelchairs. There is a mix of genders. Most have white skin.

About our organisation

ENIL is a network based on solidarity and peer support

ENIL is a forum for all disabled people, Independent Living organisations and their non-disabled allies on the issues of Independent Living. ENIL represents the disability movement for human rights and social inclusion, based on solidarity, peer support, deinstitutionalisation, democracy, self-representation, cross-disability and self-determination. Our vision is of Europe where all disabled people are able to exercise choice and control over their lives, on an equal level with others; where they are valued members of the community and can enjoy all of their human rights, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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What do we do ?

Campaigns

Learn more about our campaigns, such as the Freedom Drive.

Projects

Find out about our projects and download the project results.

Factsheet

Explore the themes ENIL is working on, such as Independent Living or deinstitutionalisation.

Join us!

ENIL provides a platform for grassroots activists and organisations

ENIL works to strengthen the empowerment of disabled people, through providing resources for peer support and peer-to-peer training. ENIL enhances the European disability sector by providing an arena for the sharing of disabled people’s experience of services and by providing expertise on independent living. Our Youth Network brings together young people, making their voice heard in the independent living movement.

Recent News

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The ENIL Youth Network is looking for new Board members! The ENIL Youth Network is looking for new Board members!

ENIL Youth Network is looking for new Board members, to continue the important work of young disabled people within the European Network on Independent …

April 15, 2025

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LITI-GATE Regional Training: Empowering Disability Advocates through Strategic Litigation LITI-GATE Regional Training: Empowering Disability Advocates through Strategic Litigation

At ENIL, we believe that people with disabilities must be at the forefront of legal and policy change. Through the LITI-GATE project, we are …

April 8, 2025

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ENIL & Validity React to CRPD Committee’s Conclusions on the EU ENIL & Validity React to CRPD Committee’s Conclusions on the EU

The European Network on Independent Living – ENIL and the Validity Foundation welcome the adoption of the concluding observations on the combined second and …

April 7, 2025

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Independent Living Map

Find out about Independent Living in your country

The Independent Living survey was launched in 2020, to find about the state of independent living around Europe. Its results are updated regularly and shared with policy and decision makers at the European level.

Access IL Map

Upcoming Events

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ENIL Board elections 2025

24/05/202524/05/2025

ENIL Board elections 2025

Please note that this event is exclusively for ENIL members. The ENIL Board election will take place online during ENIL’s General Assembly on 24 …

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The EU Policy Briefing

20/05/202520/05/2025

The EU Policy Briefing

An information session on new policy developments in Brussels Welcome to our brand-new format: The EU Policy Briefing. To keep you up to date …

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ENIL Youth Network General Assembly 2025 

31/05/202531/05/2025

ENIL Youth Network General Assembly 2025 

The ENIL Youth Network’s General Assembly (GA) and Elections of the new Board will be held on Saturday, 31 May 2025, from 14:00 – …

Register

Contact us

Meet the team!

Our people

Support our cause

Donate to ENIL!

Support ENIL here