News/Press

“Youth = Future. Let’s make an equal future for all”

European Day of People with Disabilities conference
Date: 4 and 5 December
Time: Opening: 9h00 on the 4^th
Closing (and presentation of Memorandum of Understanding): 12h00 on the 5^th
Place: Charlemagne Building –Room S3
170 Rue de la Loi
1049 Brussels

Topic:
Young Europeans encounter numerous barriers to access quality education, housing or the labour market. These barriers are most often insurmountable for young people with disabilities, who also confront inaccessible services and premises, lack of access in information, in culture and leisure activities, being victims of discrimination and social prejudice.

In the framework of the European Day of Disabled People, young disabled and non-disabled people from all over Europe will address their concerns and demands to EU decision-makers, as well as to the European Commissioner on Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Vladimir Spidla.

During a day and a half, the participants will debate on their rights and opportunities, the systematic integration of disability in European youth policy and programmes, access to employment and general participation in society.

Understanding between young disabled and non-disabled people

The conference, organised by the European Commission in close cooperation with the European Disability Forum and the active participation of the European Youth Forum, will close with the official signature of a memorandum of understanding between the two leading European NGOs in the field of youth and disability, in pursuit of common goals to undertake joint actions in the future.

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 or Patricia Sanchez, YFJ Press and Communications Manager; Tel office: (+32 2) 282 94 17; E-mail: patricia.sanchez@youthforum.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.

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is an international organisation established by national youth councils and international youth organisations to represent the interests of young people from all over Europe at the European and international level. Its members, which are federations in themselves, bring together tens of millions of young people from all European countries. Representation, internal democracy, independence, openness and inclusion are among the main principles for the functioning of the European Youth Forum and its Member Organisations.