Introducing LITI-GATE: Defending Disability Rights in Europe

LITI-GATE is a European project that brings together organizations from across the continent to defend the rights of people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. Working together, our mission is clear: to make sure people with disabilities enjoy equal rights and fair treatment under the law, just like everyone else.

The LITI-GATE team uses strategic litigation to enforce rights from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Strategic litigation means taking important cases to the European Court to encourage countries to update laws and better protect disability rights.

Who is Involved?

LITI-GATE is a collaboration between several key organizations across Europe, including:

• Victim Support Europe (VSE) (Belgium)
• European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) (Belgium)
• Kera Foundation (KERA) (Bulgaria)
• Forum Pro Lidska Prava (FORUM) (Czech Republic)
• Validity Foundation (Hungary)
• Fundatia Centrul De Resurse Juridice (CLR/CRJ) (Romania)

The project’s activities will directly benefit countries across Europe, especially Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, and Bulgaria, where these organizations are actively working to create legal and social change.

To achieve our goals, LITI-GATE focuses on several key actions:

1. Researching Legal Barriers: We conduct in-depth research by engaging directly with people with disabilities and their lawyers to document their experiences within the legal system. This research helps us identify specific barriers and needed changes, ensuring that our work is grounded in real-world challenges and solutions.
2. Creating Accessible Guides and Resources: LITI-GATE is developing a Strategic Litigation Guidebook along with additional materials to help people with disabilities navigate the complexities of court systems. These resources include step-by-step guidance on rights and the legal process, adapted specifically to meet the accessibility needs of people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.
3. Mentoring and Training Programs for Legal Professionals: Our mentoring program connects participants with experienced professionals to support them in defending disability rights cases. Training sessions for lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and legal staff increase their awareness of the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities, aiming to build a more inclusive and knowledgeable legal community.
4. Building Partnerships with Civil Society: We work with both legal and civil society organizations across Europe to foster a collaborative approach toward defending disability rights. These partnerships strengthen support networks and broaden the impact of strategic litigation efforts, promoting a unified stance on equality for persons with disabilities.
5. Raising Awareness of Disability Rights: Through public events, workshops, and awareness campaigns, we educate communities and stakeholders about the importance of upholding disability rights. These activities promote widespread understanding and advocacy, encouraging positive change in attitudes and policies across society.

In LITI-GATE, we use strategic litigation to bring lasting change to laws and policies that affect people with disabilities. Strategic litigation is when lawyers bring specific cases to the European Court to challenge unfair laws or practices. When the Court reviews these cases, it can encourage countries to change their laws to protect disability rights more effectively. This approach doesn’t just help the person involved in the case but can also improve rights and access for everyone in similar situations.

If you or someone you know has experienced barriers in the legal system, we’d like to hear your story. LITI-GATE offers support to make participation easy for everyone.

The project runs from September 2023 to June 2025 and is funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission.

For more details or to participate, contact Anna Bracco at a.bracco@victimsupporteurope.eu.