A consultation meeting of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) dedicated to violence against disabled people in institutions was held in Vienna on 21–22 October 2025. The European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) took part in the meeting, represented by Zumreta Galijašević Baluković, the Chairwoman of Lotos, from Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. With Lotos, Zumreta has been carrying out research on violence against disabled people for many years.
The event brought together representatives of public authorities, national human rights institutions, service providers, and civil society organisations from across Europe, with the aim of jointly contributing to the improvement of laws and practices that protect disabled people from violence in institutional settings. The consultation builds on the findings of FRA’s forthcoming comparative report on laws and practices to prevent and protect against violence towards persons with disabilities in EU Member States.
Through discussions and exchange of experiences, participants explored ways to support national efforts to strengthen the rights of disabled people to freedom and safety, and to improve mechanisms of accountability, prevention, and protection within institutions.
During the meeting, the ENIL representative highlighted the perspectives of disabled people, emphasising the importance of their active participation in all processes related to violence prevention and human rights protection.
This event represents an important step towards the transition and joint European effort to ensure a dignified, safe, and inclusive life for all disabled people.
Photo credit: EU Fundamental Rights Agency
