Around 200 participants gathered on 22 May 2023 in Brussels, Belgium, for our Annual General Assembly. This year’s Assembly focused on preparing the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities, which took place on 23 May, on reviewing the European Disability Forum’s work in the past year and on preparing for the upcoming European Elections.
The event included counted with a keynote speech from EU Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli.
Participants also were presented with video messages from Minister Camilla Waltersson Groenvall, Swedish Minister for Social Services, and Minister Iona Belarra, Spanish Minister of Social Rights;
During the General Assembly, the delegates:
- Celebrated the life and achievements of two disability advocates who passed away in the last year: Jolijn Santegoeds, and Rodolfo Cattani.
- Finalised preparations for the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities.
- Reviewed the EDF Manifesto on the European Elections 2024, which was subsequently adopted the next day by the delegates to the European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities. The Manifesto is divided into 5 thematic areas and contains 78 proposals that disability advocates will campaign to be adopted by the European Union following the European elections in 2024;
- Adopted a Resolution on inclusive and participatory response to ongoing humanitarian crises;
- Adopted the Annual Report and accounts for 2022 and the work plan and budget for 2024.
- Received an update from the EDF Women’s Committee’s key activities for the year 2023, which include advocacy on violence against women with a campaign to criminalise Forced Sterilisation in the EU and the preparations for the third EDF Manifesto on women with disabilities;
- Received an update from the EDF Youth Committee, whose chair presented highlights for the current year, including participation in the events of the European Year of Youth, dialogues with Commissioners, as well as two trainings on the Convention and youth and LGBTIQ+ rights. In addition, they highlighted their upcoming participation in the European Youth Event.
The Annual General Assembly was followed, on 23 May, by the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities, which gathered over 730 participants – 35 delegations from 29 European countries, in the European Parliament’s Hemicycle to discuss topics such as participation of persons with disabilities to political and public life, employment and humanitarian response with high-level representatives from the EU Institutions, United Nations and national governments.