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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Urgent Post For Disabled Persons In Europe (Please Read And Retweet)

The State of the (European) Union on Disability: 6th December 2011

In a time of crisis: 80 million persons with disabilities in the Europe are dangerously excluded.



On Tuesday 6th December, the first State of the Union on Disability will be organised in Brussels. This important meeting hosted by President José Manuel Barroso gathered Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council and Yannis Vardakastanis President of the European Disability Forum, the representative organisation of disabled people in Europe. We have discussed how to improve the lives of 80 million Europeans with disabilities and to guaranty their rights and freedom of movement.



This will be the first meeting of a series of EU Presidents Summits on Disabilities that will happen every two years. The main goal of this State of the Union is to make sure the European institutions are working together towards the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Concluded in 2010, this is the first human rights treaty concluded by the EU. It promotes the full participation of persons with disabilities in the society, including women and children with disabilities and their families.



Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the EDF will state: "When concluding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the EU institutions confirmed their commitment to persons with disabilities. In such a challenging time, this State of the Union send a strong signal. The EU leaders want the European institutions to walk in the same direction. Europe 2020, the Disability Strategy, and a legally binding Accessibility Act are all instruments to finally go from words to deeds. 80 million persons with disabilities want now to be included in this vision of Europe: nothing about us without us.



Vice President of the European Commission Viviane Reding, MEP Adam Kosa (EPP, HU) and leaders of the disability movement will also participate in the meeting.



Who?

José Manuel Barroso,  President of the European Commission

Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council

Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament

Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum



When-where?

Tuesday 6 December, 4pm,

At the Berleymont



Why is it important?

This is the first time the leaders of the disability movement are meeting the 3 Presidents.

In a challenging time of crisis, is the EU sending a social message?



The crisis is hitting persons with disabilities really hard in the EU a report says <http://euobserver.com/1020/114216> .

The austerity measures at national level needs to be adopted in consultation of persons with disabilities.



The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities is the 1st human rights treaty concluded by the EU.

Its implementation is urgent <http://www.edf-feph.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=13855&thebloc=27751>  and need a focal point on top of the EU Institutions.



Facts and Figures

We are 80 million Europeans with disabilities

This represents more than 15% of the population.



Education

18% of European go to University.

Only 9% of Europeans with disabilities go to university



Employment

69% of all European have a job

Only 29% of European with disabilities have a job



Poverty

62% of Europeans with disabilities are among the poorest persons in Europe



Internet

95% of public websites are not accessible to persons with disabilities

More

More figures are available online <http://www.edf-feph.org/Page_Generale.asp?DocID=12534&id=1&langue=EN>



About us

The European Disability Forum <http://www.edf-feph.org/>  is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 80 million persons with disabilities in Europe. The mission of EDF is to ensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe. EDF is a member of the Social Platform and works closely to the European institutions, the Council of Europe and the United Nations.



Contact EDF

Aurélien Daydé | aurelien.dayde@edf-feph.org | Mobile : +32 485 64 39 93

http://www.edf-feph.org/

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