ENIL Press Release
Oct 2, 2011
Last week, on 15 September 2011, around 200 Independent Living activists from 20 European countries met with the Disability Intergroup
European Network on Independent Living
Press Release:
European Independent Living Movement Meets with the Disability
Intergroup at the European Parliament
21 September 2011
Last week, on 15 September 2011, around 200 Independent Living activists from 20 European countries met with the Disability Intergroup at the European Parliament
in Strasbourg. The meeting was a part of the 5th Freedom Drive, organised by the
European Network on Independent Living (ENIL).
The main issues on the agenda were cuts in community-based services for people with
disabilities, the misuse of the European Union funding for the renovation or building
of long-stay institutions for people with disabilities, the lack of choice and control
of disabled people over the services available to them and the slow progress towards
de-institutionalisation in Europe.
"We are here because we are discriminated against, perceived as objects of charity,
not rights", said Freyja Haraldsdottir, a young woman active in the Independent
Living movement in Iceland. Referring to the cuts disabled people are facing across
Europe, Peter Lambreghts, ENIL's West Regional Team Coordinator, said: "Disabled
people are hit hard!" He warned MEPs about the threats to Personal Assistance service,
highlighting that austerity measures affecting disabled people's services will cost
society more in the long run.
Similar messages were brought to the Parliament by many delegates, with a call for
better use of the European Union funding, stronger legal tools to fight discrimination
against disabled people, implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities and a clear position by the European Parliament against institutionalisation
of people with disabilities. These and other demands are a part of ENIL's Proposal
for a Resolution of the European Parliament on the effect of cuts in public spending
on persons with disabilities in the European Union [http://media.fd2011.enil.eu/2011/09/ENIL_EP_Resolution_Proposal_September2011.doc],
launched on this occasion. ENIL has urged MEPs to support the Proposal, to result
in the Member States' reconsidering and reversing decisions about the cuts to community-based
services for people with disabilities.
Members of the Disability Intergroup affirmed their commitment to bring the issues
raised at the meeting forward to the European Parliament, the European Commission
and Member States. The European Network on Independent Living will continue working
with the Intergroup in the two years until the next Freedom Drive, to see that it
lives up to its promises.
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Oct 2, 2011
Last week, on 15 September 2011, around 200 Independent Living activists from 20 European countries met with the Disability Intergroup
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