It is 10 years today – the 22nd January – that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) entered into force in the European Union. Or in simpler terms – it became law. We wanted to use this occasion to look back and briefly consider the impact of the Convention, from the perspective of independent living and ENIL as an organisation.
In Brussels, 20 January 2021 – The European Network on Independent Living – ENIL is deeply concerned about a vicious public campaign against a member of our Youth Network and a well-known human rights defender in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Ana Kotur-Erkić. Ms. Kotur-Erkić, a lawyer, has been the victim of hate speech and threats…
At the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL, we take the opportunity at the end of each year to take stock of our achievements, difficulties and whatever else that made the year gone by stand out. The past year, as nobody needs reminding, has been very different, and among those who were lucky to…
Oh boy, what a year 2020 was. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the whole planet, 2020 will be difficult to forget, and contrary to the general belief, young people were also among the ones very impacted (i.e. think about education, employment, freedom of movement, socializing, mental health issues etc). Add the disability factor to the…
The philosophy of Independent Living is that of living like everyone else – having control of one’s own life, having opportunities to make decisions that affect one’s life and being able to pursue activities of one’s own choosing, regardless of disability, with reference to the magnificent work of Mr Adolf Ratzka. Everyone lives, goes to…
In November, UN OHCHR announced that the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Olivier De Shutter, will conduct an official visit to the European Union from 25 November 2020 – 29 January 2021. On this occasion, they asked interested individuals and organisation to provide their input on priority issues and assist him…
In Brussels and Budapest, 23 December 2020 – In 2019, the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL and the Validity Foundation submitted two separate complaints against the Managing Authorities in Romania and Estonia, for using European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to build new institutions for disabled people. After almost a year, the…
On 10 December, the Human Rights Day, the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL published the first results of the Independent Living Survey. The aim of the online survey was to collect general information about access to Independent Living of disabled people across Europe, and detailed information about Personal Assistance schemes or systems. The survey,…
The European Network on Independent Living – ENIL, in cooperation with MEPs Marisa Matias and Jose Gusmao, are launching a new study to expose the use of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to maintain the segregation of disabled people in the European Union. The aim of this study, commissioned by the European United…
Brussels, 3 December – To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL calls on Governments to stop delaying deinstitutionalisation reforms and start providing opportunities for independent living and being included in the community for all disabled people, as a matter of priority. Public funds, especially those…
For this year’s International Day of Disabled People, the Board members of the ENIL Youth Network have prepared the following messages: Fatma Bulić: “This year and all years to come, the ENIL Youth Network will work to build an inclusive society for people with disabilities, accessibility and sustainability, especially in building the world after the…
On 11 November, ENIL submitted a position paper to the European Commission’s roadmap to propose a new European Disability Strategy 2021-2030. ENIL highlighted 3 essential shifts which are crucial for a successful post 2020 European Disability Strategy (EDS): First, the shift from segregation to inclusion; Secondly, the shift from disabled subjects to disabled citizens; Finally,…
In May this year, the European Commission confirmed the adoption of a European Child Guarantee in the first quarter of 2021. According to the Roadmap on the new Child Guarantee, the initiative will contribute to implementing Principle 11 of the European Pillar of Social Rights on childcare and support to children, and will be one…
I would like to inform you that on July 7. 2020, the High Court in Podgorica approved the Judgment of the Basic Court in Podgorica, which established discrimination against me, Miroslava-Mima Ivanović perpetrated on April 15. 2018. by the Municipality of Kotor, the State Election Commission and the State of Montenegro, denying me the exercise…
Disclaimer: The European Network on Independent Living maintains their strong stance against segregated educational settings. The text below does not aim to advocate for special education, but instead to highlight the vulnerability of disabled children when they don’t have proper support in place, to transition into mainstream settings. On the evening of Friday 27th, at…
After 5 years, it’s time for me to say goodbye as Office Manager at ENIL. Many things have happened since I started and I can only say it’s been great to get to meet so many friends and work with wonderful people. I want to thank everyone for being there when I needed them and…
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities made clear almost 15 years ago that placing people with disabilities in institutions is a violation of their human rights. Segregated and isolated from the rest of the world, residents are denied their rights to independent living, to inclusion in the community and to shape…
On 17 September 2020, the European Commission published the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy (ASGS) for 2021. In normal circumstances, the ASGS is the guide for the European Semester process. This year, however, the European Commission launched a new tool together with the ASGS – the RRF, or Recovery and Resilience Facility. In this article, we…
My academic career began in 2010 when I completed a BSc Psychology at Ulster University. My original intention was to train as a Clinical Psychologist, however my undergraduate degree introduced me to the realm of research. I quickly became fascinated with qualitative research methodologies particularly the ways in which we interpret the world around us…
The Threshold Association (or Kynnys ry in Finnish) is a cross-disability organization, which focuses on the basic and human rights of persons with disabilities. It was founded in Helsinki by Kalle Könkkölä and other students with disabilities in 1973. Nowadays the Threshold has offices in Helsinki, Kuopio, Oulu Tampere and Turku. In addition to this,…
