Proud, Strong and Visible
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.
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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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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ENIL calls for stronger disability rights focus in guidelines on intersectional discrimination against women
ENIL has submitted its contribution to the zero draft guidelines of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on intersectional …
Open letter to Commissioner Lahbib on the enhanced EU Disability Strategy
Brussels 1 June 2026 Subject: Concretising the implementation of the European Disability Strategy 2026-2030, delivering on the Independent Living, equal treatment and social inclusion …
ENIL Recommendations to the Irish Council Presidency
The recommendations can be downloaded in pdf here and in word here. Disabled people in the EU face serious challenges and rights restrictions: The …
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 MapUpcoming Events
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16/06/2026 – 16/06/2026
WEBINAR: EU Policy Briefing III – A look at the EU Disability Strategy 2026-230Date: 16 June 2026Time: 11:00–12:00 CESTLocation: OnlineRegister: https://shorturl.at/ckUre ENIL invites you to the second EU Policy Briefing of 2026, focusing on the enhanced EU …
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09/06/2026 – 09/06/2026
Side Event: CRPD at 20 – Are we any closer to Independent Living for All?Side event during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD (COSP 19) Date: 9 June 2026Time: 10:00 – 11:15 …
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12/06/2026 – 12/06/2026
WEBINAR: Co-production in Independent Living ResearchOrganised by ENIL’s Independent Living Research Network Date: 12 JuneTime: 10:00 – 12:00 CESTLocation: Online via ZoomRegister: https://shorturl.at/YPmcv This webinar will explore how research …
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