News/Press

“We will not tolerate any form of discrimination”, say Europe’s disability
leaders meeting in Rome

37 European countries and more than 250 representatives attend the Annual General Assembly of the European Disability Forum (EDF)

Rome, 25 May 2006 – “Ten years ago our organisation was made of 17 European countries; today, we are 37 countries and the true representatives of disability rights all over the continent” recalled in his welcoming words the President of the European Disability Forum, Yannis Vardakastanis. “From Rome, where the pillars of the European communities were established, we send a strong and clear message: disabled people will not tolerate any form of discrimination or exclusion, because we are main actors in society”, he added.

“It is an honour for Rome to welcome the leaders of the European disability movement. With its work and ideas, the European Disability Forum represents today a real stimulus for the European institutions and decision-makers and has played a key role in advancing the rights of disabled people during many years” said Nina Daita, representative of Confederazione Generale Italiana Lavoratori, one of the main Italian trade union confederations and a member of ETUC.

Ten years after its establishment, the European Disability Forum celebrates today the major successes of the past decade and highlights the challenges of the future, both at European and national level.

EDF President: “We started our work with a successful campaign, which resulted in the integration of the first ever reference to disability in the EU Treaty. We close this decade with another major success, which is the incorporation of the non-discrimination and accessibility principles in the General regulation of the European structural funds. The link established between EU funding and these fundamental values will change the lives of disabled people”.

Over this weekend, the disability movement leaders will analyse and exchange best practices in a wide range of matters affecting 50 million disabled people in Europe. The topics for discussion will include the European structural funds, the de-institutionalisation of disabled people, the rights of the most vulnerable and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. The talks will particularly focus on the celebrations of EDF’s 10^th anniversary, established in 1996 as the sole European disability umbrella in Europe. A key declaration on the 10 years of the European Disability movement and its future political agenda will be presented and debated by the 250 participants.

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel office: (+ 32 2) 282 46 04; E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled citizens in Europe. EDF membership includesnational umbrella organisations of disabled peoplefrom all EU/EEA countries, as well asEuropean NGOs representing the different types of disabilities. The mission of the European Disability Forum is toensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.