The representative organisation of persons with disabilities in Europe
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European elections 2009: risk of massive abstention

DISABILITY VOTES COUNT

EDF has launched a new website to ensure that all citizens with disabilities will have equal opportunities to participate in the 2009 European elections: visit www.disabilityvotescount.eu
 
In June 2009, European Parliament elections will simultaneously take place in the 27 European Union countries. Voter turnout in European elections in 2004 has followed the downward trend experienced since 1979. This represents a participation figure of 45.5 per cent around the EU. There are more than 65 million citizens with disabilities in Europe, representing one family out of four and 15% of the electorate, and if they could fully enjoy their right to vote, they could change the low turnout of the previous elections.The European Disability Forum (EDF) has launched its information website www.disabilityvotescount.eu:

-encouraging citizens with disabilities to exert their rights to vote and to participate to the European elections

-promoting free and equal access to the electoral debates and procedures for citizens with disabilities

-inviting the candidates to the elections to engage with the demands of 50 million disabled citizens within EU policies and legislation.

Citizens, candidates and electoral authorities will also find special sections to know more about:

-the impact of the EU in the daily lives of persons with disabilities
-the EDF Manifesto: nothing about us, without us which contains the TOP 10 demands to make disability discrimination history, calls on politicians to assure equal access for voting and participation in electoral campaigns and for a European Parliament for all. The EDF invites the political leaders to endorse the Manifesto and also to integrate its principles in their parties’ campaigns

-easy-to-read material about the elections
-electoral authorities – check list on accessibility
-persons with disabilities – Know your rights
-achievements & goals for next EP- to parties and candidates
-country by country information

A gender proof campaign
On the occasion of the International Women's Day on 8 March 2009 and in view of the forthcoming European elections the EDF launched its "gender proof European elections Manifesto" stressing the situation of women with disabilities in the European Union. And also adding the gender angle to the EDF’s TOP 10 demands to the candidates in the European elections and their political parties.

Coming soon
-7 key questions to European parties’ leader
-disability votes count letters ready-to-post to your political parties, candidates, electoral authority 
-disability movement best-practices
For more information contact:
Aurélien Daydé | EDF Communication and Media Officer | T +32 2 282 46 04 | M + 32 485 64 39 93
E aurelien.dayde@edf-feph.org

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