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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Towards Independent Living Studies: Reflections from the 2025 Nordic Network on Disability Research Conference
Teodor Mladenov Senior Lecturer, University of Dundee Coordinator, Independent Living Research Network In recent years, I have witnessed and contributed to a distinct and …
Poland’s Personal Assistance Bill: Lifeline or Another Barrier for Disabled People?
On Tuesday, May 13, over 300 people—mainly the disabled persons, but also some of their family members , personal assistants, and other allies—gathered outside …
Mentoring Across Borders: Strategic Litigation as a Path to Disability Justice
By Adela Santos Lavigne – ENIL, Project Coordinator for the LITI-GATE project In May 2025, ENIL hosted two online mentoring sessions focused on building …
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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17/06/2025 – 17/06/2025
Preventing institutionalisation through EU Funding – the role of the new MFFDespite long-standing commitments, over 1.5 million people in Europe remain in institutions, often due to the lack of accessible, community-based services and preventative support …
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25/08/2025 – 30/08/2025
International Summer school on disability representationOrganised by: ENIL Youth Network, with support from the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe This summer, we are taking control of …
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20/06/2025 – 20/06/2025
Strengthening Rights Through Strategic LitigationAs part of the Liti-Gate project, the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) is pleased to announce its upcoming webinar on procedural accommodations — …
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Recent News
