ENIL was the first INGO that exposed the horrific effects of cuts and austerities on the rights and living conditions of disabled people in Europe. We received alarming messages, warnings and even cries for help from many of our member organisations as well as individual members. This has continuously increased since the beginning of the…
This month ENIL launched the Campaign called “Stop Disability Cuts”. A website was established in cooperation with the EFC and EDF – www.stopdisabilitycuts.eu. This website allows the sharing of planned activities as well as concrete cases showing impacts of the cuts on disabled people. News is updated everyday for you to follow. The campaign is…
ENIL interviews Ottmar Miles- Paul, from the German Council of Centers for Self-Determined Living ( ISL) about the Disability Cuts Campaign and what action will be taken in Germany on the 5th May 2013 to highlight the cutbacks there. We know that 5th of May has been a Campaigning day in Germany for years, why…
4th March 2014, Dublin- The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) is launching a new website www.stopdisabilitycuts.eu, developed in cooperation with the European Foundation Centre and the European Disability Forum. The website is part of the ENIL-led campaign “Stop Disability Cuts”, which seeks to raise awareness of the increased marginalisation disabled people face as a…
Who – This call is for ENIL and all supporters to mobilize and together carry out events on May 5th highlighting the effects of cuts on disabled people What – simultaneous activities should take place in the EU Member States raising awareness on the effects of cuts – all events are happening on the same…
Statement by Anne Pridmore, Gabriel Pepper and Stuart Bracking As three of the Independent Living Fund users who have challenged the legality of the government’s decision to close the Fund, we welcome the Appeal Court’s unanimous ruling that this decision should be quashed. Given the Government has decided not to appeal to the Supreme Court,…
On the 6th November 2013 the Appeal Court in London, United Kingdom took a significant and powerful step towards reversing the recent trend towards the cutting of services and funds to disabled people. The Appeal Court unanimously quashed the Government’s decision to close the Independent Living Fund on the grounds that it breached the Public…
With inspiration gained from the Strasbourg Freedom Drive Vibeke Maroy Melström, President of the European Network on Independent Living called for a renewal and stronger Independent Living movement and for a louder voice against the cuts to be heard in Europe. In her speech at the Strasbourg Freedom Drive Vibeke said “I come from Norway,…
Most people applaud when the business case for change coincides with human rights. Its good to do the right thing and even better when both individuals and the taxpayer benefits. Or at least one would have thought so until reading the distressing news that a mother was left with no option after cumulative cutbacks –…
Jean Lambert is a Green Party member of the European Parliament for London. She is an active member of the Disability Intergroup and is also a regular defender of the right of Independent Living at the European Level. She is a member of the European Parliament Committee of Employment and Social Affairs where the impact…
The Independent Living Fund (ILF) was set up in 1988 as a stand-alone central Government fund to which disabled people with high support needs could apply for direct payments for personal assistance (P.A.). The direct payments meant that people could afford to pay P.A.s for the assistance that they needed – round-the-clock, in some cases…
We call on your support for the adoption of a Proposal for Resolution of the European Parliament. We need your support to convince MEPs to vote Yes and to help you do this we have created a ‘Defend the Right to Independent Living: Action Toolkit for an EU Parliament Resolution.
Nadia Clarke is 20 years old and is a campaigner for people with disabilities. She has cerebal palsy and is deaf. She has travelled to many places around the world speaking about the rights of people with disabilities and has also spoken in the House of Commons in Britain. In this short video from ITV she…
