As we all know from our daily lives, as disabled people we face a multitude of societal barriers that severely hamper our right to independent living and equal participation in society. In too many cases, we have no independent living at all. In January 2011, the European Union committed to addressing these barriers when it…
At the beginning of March 2022, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the new European Care Strategy. This article explains the main points set out in ENIL’s response to this consultation. A new initiative on long-term care was first mentioned in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan in March 2021. It…
I was just turning 14, when Russia waged a full-scale military offensive on Georgia in August 2008. Throughout the horrors of the war days I was speculating, where could my family flee, if the war persists. I thought Ukraine could be such a place, however today we see that it too is about to face…
The European Union is the biggest development and humanitarian aid donor in the world. It is also the only regional organisation to have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). As such, it is in a perfect position to address the ongoing social exclusion and segregation of children, adults and…
I have been disabled for almost 20 years. When my health deteriorated to the point that I needed support for my basic needs, I started independent living activism. At that time, I found out there was no proper service for me. It was quite a shocking revelation, especially since I used to work in the…
On 1 April 2021, ENIL and the Association of Women with Disabilities (ENG-KAD) started a new project, which aims to promote the development of personal assistance in Turkey by ensuring that people with disabilities are better informed and better able to advocate tor personal assistance. The project will run for 15 months. Following the ratification…
Independent Living (IL) Reading List (updated on 23 August 2018) The IL Reading List is created and maintained by the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and reflects ENIL’s mission, values and priorities. The list may also contain references to papers that criticise the ideas and practices of Independent Living because we believe that being…
In this time of crisis, it is easy to be convinced by the Governments’ messaging that the most important priority is the health of wider society, the protection of health care workers and the sustainability of the economy. ENIL Youth Network see these priorities as necessary to solve this crisis but what we cannot accept…
The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) and the European Disability Forum (EDF) are pleased to launch a collection of examples from different EU Member States, which facilitate the right of disabled people to live independently in the community. The collection of examples, collected through a Europe-wide survey in 2017, seeks to promote and encourage…
The 8th Freedom Drive is now over, bringing an end to a week of promoting independent living, peer support, protest and celebration of disability rights.
Read more about the new research project of ENIL and about Teodor Mladenov who will lead it.
May 5th 2017 is the fourth European Independent Living Day to be celebrated around Europe, by Centers for Independent Living and other members of the European Independent Living Movement.
A monthly roundup of all the articles published by ENIL in April.
Apply Now for the ENIL/ESN study session “Inclusion Culture – Promoting Leadership in Intercultural Understanding within Mixed-Ability Groups”, taking place in Strasbourg form 28 May – 4 June 2017.
The study session “All in – creating inclusive and empowering spaces for all”, coordinated by IFM-SEI and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), in partnership with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, will look at creating inclusive child and youth organisations, focusing on disability rights and children’s rights, and is open to members from Council…
The March edition of the Zero Project News on Innovation is out now.
This month Kamil Goungor – an ENIL intern and supporter – shares the story of his EVS experience…
Three years ago disabled people in Latvia received fantastic news – personal assistance (PA) legislation was to be introduced in Latvia. The legislation came into effect on 1st January 2013. In short, disabled people could apply for personal assistance funded through the national government and administrated by the local municipalities. It did not take long…
ENIL’s advisory panel member Raffaello Belli recently wrote an article as a reaction to the commonplace excuses of the authority figures in Italy when it comes to lack of funding for personal assistance. ENIL is perseveringly working in the area and next week a report on the situation of the personal assistance in Europe will be published.
Esti Arraztio leaves ENIL after her 9-month internship and wants to say a few words about this enriching experience.
