Completed Disability Rights in the European Elections (DREE)

The Disability Rights in the European Elections (DREE) project aims to increase political participation of persons with disabilities, as voters, political activists and candidates in European elections.

Background

There are legal and practical barriers that prevent millions of persons with disabilities from exercising the same political rights as other EU citizens, a direct violation of the fundamental rights outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In the 2019 European Parliament elections, approximately 400,000 persons with disabilities in 14 countries were deprived from their right to vote on the basis of their disability. The right of persons with disabilities to stand as a candidate is even less common among EU countries, with only a few countries upholding the right for all persons with disabilities to stand for office.

Objectives

By 2024, when the next EU elections take place, the DREE project will have contributed to increased voter turnout, activism and candidature by persons with disabilities. Specifically, the project aims to:

• Mobilise persons with disabilities to engage in the 2024 EU elections
• Raise awareness of:
  • The importance of the EU for ensuring disability rights
  • The EU decision-making process and resources available such as the eu platform
  • Political participation of persons with disabilities in EU elections
• Facilitate exchanges between activists with disabilities across Europe, within the framework of the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities
• Empower national organisations representing persons with disabilities to:
  • Raise awareness about disability rights achieved at EU level
  • Promote agreed priorities at national level and among candidates to the European Parliament
  • Advocate for further participation of persons with disabilities in the EU elections through the removal of legal and practical barriers

Project Partners

The formal partners in the project implementation are the European Disability Forum (EDF), as Project Coordinator, and 7 national organisations of persons with disabilities:

• Croatian Union of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (SOIH)
• The Estonian Chamber of Disabled People
• National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) Greece
• The Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (SUSTENTO)
• Lithuanian Disability Forum
• Institute of Independent Living Poland
• Romanian National Disability Council

Project Updates

The DREE project culminated in June 2024, following the European Parliament elections. DREE trained 90 disability activists to become change-makers, supported them to organise 137 follow up activities and inspired political participation of persons with disabilities across the EU!

Changemakers were trained in capacity building activities led by our partners in 7 Member States:

In Latvia, the Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (SUSTENTO) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 26 April 2023. The activity entitled “Voting Rights and Opportunities for People with Functional Disabilities” covered and introduction to DREE and the political participation of persons with disabilities in the EU and Latvian context, an overview of the European Parliament led by the local liaison office complimented by a virtual call with Latvian MEP Ivars Ijabs, and a workshop to brainstorm follow up activities, among other sessions. The capacity building trained 13 change-makers and laid the foundation for national outreach through various member organisations represented.

In Lithuania, the Lithuanian Disability Forum (LNF) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 3 May 2023. The activity entitled “Training: Actively for my rights and yours!” kicked off with an introduction to the main challenges in working with the rights of persons with disabilities in Lithuania. The remainder of the day was led by two local professional activists who guided change-makers in developing public campaigns, community narratives and identifying community mobilisation tools. The 13 trained change-makers left with a roadmap for their follow up activities, grounded in the principles of community organising.

In Estonia, the Estonian Chamber of Disabled People (EPIK) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 9 May 2023. The activity was entitled “People with disabilities political participation, EU decision making mechanisms and preparing for upcoming European Parliament elections.” It presented the political participation of persons with disabilities in the EU and Estonia followed by an introduction to the EU decision-making process by a political adviser of the Estonian representation of the European Commission, an overview of accessible election procedures by the Head of State Electoral Office, and a panel discussion with former and current candidates with disabilities on their experiences. The activity trained 16 change-makers.

In Croatia, the Croatian Union of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (SOIH) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 7 July 2023. The activity entitled “ABCs of Modern Activism” defined activism and introduced participants to the key elements of an activist strategy, focusing in on activism through social media. The activity trained 14 change-makers.

In Poland, the Institute of Independent Living (IIL) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 13 May 2023. The training covered both the political participation of persons with disabilities and ABCs of modern activism. It concluded with a session preparing the 11 change-makers to put activism in practice.

In Romania, the Romanian National Disability Council (CNDR) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 10 August 2023. The training was led by EDF and covered various topics related to disability rights in the EU (e.g., transport, culture, health, justice, political participation), and included a brief session on EU decision-making processes. The activity trained 12 change-makers.

In Greece, the National Confederation of Disabled People (NCDP) organised a capacity building activity for change-makers on 6 November 2023.  The activity featured an introduction to the international (UNCRPD) and EU legal frameworks for the right to vote and stand for elections of persons with disabilities, as well as recommendations for policy makers and political parties on promoting equal political participation. The 11 trained change-makers also engaged in a discussion on their personal experiences with voting and standing as candidate.

Timeline and Contact

The project began in January 2023 and will continue through June 2024.

For further information, please contact Markaya Henderson, EDF Project Officer
Markaya.henderson@edf-feph.org