In Brussels, 5 May 2022 – On the occasion of the 9th Edition of the Independent Living Day on the 5th of May, the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) calls on the EU to ensure the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). The European Network…
This spring I had a wonderful opportunity to participate and represent ENIL together with my colleagues Agnes Sarlota Fazekas and Kamil Goungor in Forum on the Present and Future of citizenship and Human Rights Education in Europe, which took place in beautiful Turin, in Italy. The Forum lasted from the 11th to 13th of April,…
Disability and Social Protection Social protection systems are supposed to enable us to live full, independent lives but are ill-equipped to support the disabled. Which changes do we need for social protection that supports independent living? The European Union advises member states on the design and operation of social protection schemes. To inform this process,…
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…
Get Ready for the 9th Edition of the Independent Living Day! In 2014, the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL celebrated 25 years of existence. To commemorate this event and to celebrate our growing network, the ENIL Board decided to declare May 5th as the European Day on Independent Living. This day can be…
The Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability (MFOPD) is Malta’s national umbrella organisation, and a member of ENIL. It is a voluntary non-governmental organisation with 34 member organisations all working with and for persons with disabilities. MFOPD was founded in 1970. In 2020, MFOPD had planned various commemorative events to celebrate its 50th anniversary,…
We’ve gathered for you, some fundraisers to support disabled people in Ukraine. Here are 4 ways to help: Appeal by Fight for Right https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-disabled-ukrainians?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter Inclusion Europe (targeting people with intellectual disabilities and families; all funds to go directly to Ukraine) https://www.inclusion-europe.eu/help-ukraine/ Through the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities Organisation: National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities…
At the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL, we have had a busy start of the new year, as we begin implementing our Strategic Plan for 2022 – 2025. Many of you have contributed to the consultation last year, so hope that you will find the activities relevant to what is happening in your…
In this article, one of the founders of ENIL, John Evans, reflects on the significance of the International Day of Disabled People (IDDP) and the changes we have witnessed in the last 20 years. As one of the pioneers of Independent Living in the United Kingdom, John reflects on the ups and downs of disabled…
My time with ENIL has come to an end. I was the ESC volunteer from June to December 2021. It was an eye opening and exciting experience. I got the opportunity to support the organisation of events such as ENIL’s “Freedom Surf” in September. I was also given the chance to interact with the Secretariat…
The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) Youth Network, in cooperation with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, is pleased to invite you to apply for the 2022 Study Session ”Sustainable Development Goals and Youth with Disabilities: What We Can Do?”. This Study session will take place at the European Youth Centre in…
The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) is looking for a two new team members: a Policy Coordinator (full time, permanent contract) and a Project Assistant (part time, 10 months). Deadlines to apply are 6 February 2022 (for the Policy Coordinator) and 13 February 2022 (for the Project Assistant). 1. The Policy Coordinator will be…
Manfred Srb, one of ENIL’s co-founders at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in 1989, and a member of ENIL’s first Board passed away on 8 January 2022, a few days after his wife Annemarie Srb Rössler. In his native Austria and other German-speaking countries, Manfred was a well-known and successful advocate for disability rights, in particular, for…
As we near the end of the year, we wish to take an opportunity to reflect on what we have done, and highlight other memorable moments. Instead of the usual Newsletter, we will take you through the year 2021 at the European Network on Independent Living. We begin with some facts and move on to…
My name is Laura Alčiauskaitė and I work as a TRIPS Project coordinator at ENIL. This October, 2021 I was planning to go to the HUMANIST conference where I was supposed to deliver a presentation about our project. As I’m based in Lithuania, I booked the flights from Kaunas to Rhodes Island and a return…
On the 24th November, ENIL held a webinar on accessible housing, an issue of major importance for us. It took place on Zoom and was recorded through ENIL’s YouTube channel. The event was introduced by ENIL’s Deputy Director Ines Bulic Cojocariu, and our first speaker was Thiandi Groof, a self-advocate from the Netherlands, who spoke…
I had the privilege of attending the European Law Academy (ERA) Annual conference on the rights of persons with disabilities from 17th – 19th November 2021. The main topic was the right to independent living, with presentations on disability human rights law, relating to a few different areas such as deinstitutionalisation (DI) and the right…
I am Melike, a new volunteer at ENIL. I was born and raised in Beşiktaş, Istanbul and moved to Brussels as of September 2021. I completed my undergraduate and graduate education at Istanbul Bilgi University Sociology and Cultural Studies programs. I took part in various projects and researches for 10 years in the Center for…
In 1991, five disabled Norwegians, three woman and two men, gained freedom and independency in their lives. How did they utilize this freedom? To ensure thousands of others the same possibilities through importing and developing citizen-led personal assistance in Norway. It is this entrepreneurial effort through three decades that we are now celebrating! On October…
Between the 21st and 23rd of September, ENIL held online the Freedom Surf conference, which replaced our usual flagship event of the Freedom Drive, that was postponed due to COVID-19 and the restrictions surrounding the pandemic. We had numerous events each day, such as meeting with ENIL and ENIL Youth Network boards, workshops, and interesting…
