Disability Watchdog

The COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor Coordinating Group express their alarm about increasing police violence against persons with disabilities in the context of the pandemic, and are calling on governments around the world to take urgent steps to prevent acts of brutality.  Early in the COVID-19 global pandemic, the global community and persons with disabilities highlighted…

The European Network on Independent Living – ENIL is deeply concerned about the treatment of protesters and bystanders by the Serbian police during the ongoing protests across the country. Specifically, we urge the Serbian authorities to undertake a thorough investigation and bring to justice the perpetrators of police brutality, on 8th July 2020 in Novi…

My name is Elvira Popa and I have been a wheelchair user for many years, living in Râmnicu-Vâlcea, Romania. Life has been very harsh most of the time and here I am telling  one of those episodes when I was kicked down to the ground and left alone to find my way back. 1.The assault The…

Since 20 April 2020, through a global survey, the COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor (DRM) has been gathering data to conduct rapid independent monitoring of state measures concerning persons with disabilities in the context of the pandemic. Today, the initiative reaches a new milestone with the launch of the COVID-19 DRM Dashboard that allows the public…

Today, a group of seven organisations of persons with disabilities and other organisations advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities sent an urgent appeal to ensure equal access to COVID-19 medical treatment for residents of Sasca Mică Centre and other institutions for persons with disabilities and older persons in Romania. On 21 April 2020,…

The United Nations has today found Hungary responsible for “grave and systematic” violations of the human rights of persons with disabilities in the country. In a report released today, the UN found the country in flagrant breach of international law for placing people with disabilities in institutions, aided by the European Union which has provided…

In Brussels, 15 November 2019 – For the first time in history, three disability rights organisations have initiated Court proceedings against the European Commission for failing to halt EU infrastructure funding being used by Bulgaria to build institutions for persons with disabilities. Case T-613/19, pending before the EU General Court in Luxembourg, challenges the Decision…

The Government of the Republic of Armenia has made a decision to donate land areas in Ararat province to the Armenian Caritas (a charity organization), where the organization plans to build a “Children’s City”. The project involves the construction of a “city”, with programmes aimed at children’s care, health, upbringing and education. Around 600 children…

ENIL’s member in Hungary, the National Federation of Associations of People with a Physical Disability (MEOSZ) published a statement earlier this week rejecting  their country’s 2019 – 2036 Deinstitutionalisation strategy and calling on the Government to adopt a new strategy that will include measures to facilitate access to the right to live independently and to…

On 14 January, ENIL, the European Disability Forum, the Validity Foundation and Disability Rights International sent a letter to the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen, asking her to ensure that, in the negotiations on the European Social Fund + (ESF+) Regulations, the wording that that ESF+ should facilitate the…

On 20 September, the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), the Centre for Independent Living Sofia (CIL Sofia), the Validity Foundation and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee (BHC) submitted a petition to the Petitions Committee (PETI Committee) at the European Parliament. The petition concerns the planned use of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) for…

Brussels and Sofia, 11 February 2019 – The European Network on Independent Living, the Centre for Independent Living Sofia and the Validity Foundation are calling on the Bulgarian Government to immediately suspend a programme which will channel European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds into the building of a large number of residential care facilities for…

On 14 January, ENIL, together with the European Disability Forum (EDF), Disability Rights International (DRI) and the Validity Foundation sent a joint letter to Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen. In the letter, we have asked Commissioner Thyssen to maintain the wording in Article 6(2) (Equality between men and women…

(Brussels, October 10, 2018) – Croatia’s government should end the confinement of children and adults with disabilities in institutions, five disabled people’s and human rights organizations said today in a letter to Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. Despite some initial progress, the process of moving people out of institutions and into community-based living has stalled, the…

On 20 April, ENIL sent an Open letter to the Croatian Minister of Demography, Family, Youth and Social Policy Ms. Neda Murganic, in order to raise our concerns about the current administration’s reluctance to continue the process of transition from institutional care to living in the community. The letter followed our participation in an event…

Brussels, 26/02/2018 – NGOs are demanding the suspension and redesigning of deinstitutionalisation projects managed by the Hungarian government with funding from the European Commission.

ENIL was made aware of a number of negative developments in Slovenia, which raise questions about the country’s compliance with the UN CRPD and the ЕU laws and policies on social inclusion. Our concerns relate to the process of deinstitutionalisation, or more precisely, the continuing investments into long-stay residential institutions for children and disabled people.

On 12 – 13 October, the Estonian Presidency of the EU Council is organising a conference “Dignity + Independent Living = DI”, which will be followed by the Council Conclusions on deinstitutionalisation.

Sebastian Häregård, 14, was illegally discriminated against in his school Nästegårdsskolan in Vara municipality, Sweden.

ENIL Press Release