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Our event on the right to decide ETR (Word document)
Our event on the right to decide ETR (PDF document)
We are the European Disability Forum.
We are an organisation that protects the rights of all people with disabilities in Europe.
In short, we are called ‘EDF’.
On 21 June, we organised an event about the right of people with disabilities to make their own decisions.
This event took place in the city of Vilnius in Lithuania.
Many people took part in this event.
Amongst others:
- People with disabilities,
- People who make laws in Europe,
- Experts in law and the rights
of people with disabilities.
Together, we talked about what needs to be better for people with disabilities to be able to make their own decisions and choices in life.
Sadly, many people with disabilities in Europe are still not allowed to make their own decisions about their lives.
People with disabilities may not have the right to:
- Marry and have children,
- Decide where how and with whom
they want to live, - Buy a house,
- Sign a contract,
- Use their money as they want,
- Vote in the elections,
- Make choices about their bodies and health.
Other people make decisions for them.
This could be a family member or someone else.
Often, people with disabilities cannot even choose the person who will make decisions for them.
The court decides who will make decisions for the person with a disability.
People who do not have the right to make their own choices often face a big risk of:
- Being placed in institutions
against their will, - Getting medication and treatments
against their will or knowledge, - Being treated badly and not being able
to report it or ask for help.
The discussion we had at the event made it clear that:
- Everyone should have the right to make their own decisions about their lives. Countries in Europe should work to change their laws and recognise the right of people with disabilities to decide for their own lives.
- With the right support and accessible information, all people can make their own decisions and speak up for themselves.
Countries should give support to the people with disabilities who need it to be able to make their own decisions. - The view that people with disabilities cannot make good decisions must change. Countries should recognise people with disabilities as people with rights
like everyone else. - People with disabilities should take part and have a say in all decisions that concern them.Countries should work together with organisations of people with disabilities and listen to their views.
- Countries should protect people with disabilities from abuse. Abuse is when someone hurts another person on purpose.
The speakers of the event
Indrė Širvinskaitė
Indrė is part of the Lithuanian Disability Forum.
This is an organisation that works for the rights of people with disabilities in Lithuania.
Rimantas Mockus
Rimantas works for the office of the Lithuanian government that makes sure that all laws are fair and that everybody follows them.
Inga Ruginienė
Inga works for the office of the Lithuanian government that supports people who do not work, older people and other people in need.
Yannis Vardakastanis
Yannis is part of the European Disability Forum. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Europe.
Markus Schefer
Markus is part of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This is a group of experts that checks if countries are treating people with disabilities fairly.
Catherine Naughton
Catherine works for the European Disability Forum. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Europe.
Marine Uldry
Marine works for the European Disability Forum. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Europe.
Daniel Anibal García Diego
Daniel is part of the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Spain.
Emer Begley
Emer works for the Disability Federation of Ireland. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Ireland.
Tamara Byrne
Tamara is part of the EDF Youth Committee. This is a group of young people with disabilities. They speak up for the rights of young people with disabilities in Europe.
Dovilė Juodkaitė
Dovilė works for the Lithuanian Disability Forum. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with disabilities in Lithuania.
Freddy Jussien
Freddy works for Inclusion Europe. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe.
Soufiane El Amrani
Soufiane works for Inclusion Europe. This is an organisation that protects the rights of people with intellectual disabilities in Europe.
Soufiane is a self-advocate. This means that he speaks up for his rights as a person with disabilities.
Rosie Harding
Rosie is a professor at the Birmingham Law School in the United Kingdom.
Jonas Ruškus
Jonas is a professor at the Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania.
More information
If you have any questions, you can send us an email at:
info@edf-feph.org