On 24th May, the Board of the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL adopted the Annual Report for 2020. The report covers ENIL’s activities between 1 January and 31 December 2020. It is aimed at anyone who would like to find out more about ENIL and its work. This includes our members, allies, disabled people, funders, supporters and the general public.
The report presents some of the highlights from 2020, including:
DISABILITY INCLUSIVE COVID-19 RESPONSE
The COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitor, which came together with no additional funding and thanks to a major commitment from the seven organisations involved, provided a powerful platform to expose rights violations and channel voices of disabled people from around the world.
SAFETY THROUGH INCLUSION
Together with two of our close allies, the Validity Foundation and Disability Rights International, we having been making a case for “emergency deinstitutionalisation”. This refers to the need to move as many people as possible out of institutions, and provide them with support in the community as a matter of urgency. We have been successful in putting this issue on the international agenda, and welcomed the establishment on the working group on deinstitutionalisation by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
FIRST INDEPENDENT LIVING SURVEY
Seven years after completing the last set of Personal Assistance tables, we launched our first Independent Living Survey. We obtained information about 44 countries, which was presented in country sheets and a summary report. The data that was collected will be used to inform policy making at the European level, in relation to independent living and deinstitutionalisation, and to compare the efficacy of deinstitutionalisation reforms and PA schemes in the Member States.
CHALLENGING THE USE OF EU FUNDS
In 2020, ENIL has continued with numerous activities to challenge the Member States and the European Commission for using EU funds to build, renovate and modernise institutions for disabled children, adults and older people. Although we have not achieved our aim – a total prohibition of building or renovating institutions of any size with EU funds – there is more pressure on the European Commission to set rules in line with international human rights standards, monitor what is happening and impose sanctions.
Read the Annual Report 2020 in pdf – click here to download
Read the Annual Report 2020 in Word – click here to download
