European Disability Forum

Weekend reading! This March edition our Disability Voice newsletter focuses on the latest updates on the rights of women and girls with disabilities. Despite being over a quarter of Europe’s female population, they still face systemic discrimination and barriers. We call on the EU and its Member States to take urgent action! ➡️ Our manifesto: A call for concrete commitments to empower women with disabilities.  ➡️ Our advocacy: Urging the European Commission to fully include women with disabilities in gender equality policies.  ➡️ Our position paper: Challenging harmful stereotypes and offering solutions to end discrimination and abuse.  ➡️ Our new project: Women with Disabilities Leading the Change driving progress for equal rights. Read: https://lnkd.in/dDCB8p6A Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/d9NwyzmT #DisabilityVoice #WomensRights #HumanRights #WomenWithDisabilities

An inclusive society starts with awareness and understanding. That’s why The League of the Strong has conducted several in-depth studies to uncover the real needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities in Ukraine. These insights lay the foundation for systemic change — toward a society where everyone feels seen, valued, and included. Here are the key findings 👇 🔸 68% of people with disabilities cannot afford even basic needs like food or clothing. Only 20% are employed — and just 7% among those with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities. Why is the job market still so closed to them? Dive into our study: 🔗https://lnkd.in/dnnDEy8u 🔸 Is Ukraine ready for supported living? 75% of Ukrainians are unfamiliar with this concept, yet 78% support deinstitutionalization. The main barriers? Lack of funding and trained professionals. More insights in our research: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dESfJdMN 🔸 98% of Ukrainians say they consider people with disabilities equal members of society — but reality tells a more complex story. Civilians with disabilities are often met with pity; veterans — with respect. What are the root causes of exclusion? Read our first nationwide survey: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dYK4svMD 🔸 War has intensified existing challenges. Shelters are not accessible, modular housing is rare, and remote education does not meet accessibility standards. Evacuation remains a critical issue requiring urgent government action. Full report:  🔗 https://lnkd.in/dKyMfSJs These studies help us pinpoint priorities, overcome barriers, and build a society where everyone belongs. What issues related to the lives of people with disabilities do you think need further exploration? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Legislation that "came out so wrong". Worry about the "fate of the Equal Treatment Directive". But also "personal commitments to ensure intersectionality is very well reflected in all the different equality strategies. The public dialogue between UN experts on disability and the European Union was full of memorable moments. We listed 12 of them in our article: https://lnkd.in/eVc9Zbm8

Positive action programme for persons with disabilities 2025 The European Parliament is launching a positive action selection procedure, to enable persons with a disability to work within our institution. The procedure will establish a pool of 20 suitable candidates who may subsequently be recruited as contract agents (Article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the EU), in function group II, III or IV, by the directorates-general of the secretariat. This programme is open to those who have not previously worked in an EU institution, agency or body (traineeships, freelance and interim contracts excluded). All you need to know is available here: https://lnkd.in/eGvFF9VP

European Disability Card: National governments are now in the process of adapting EU law for their national systems. They need to be ambitious! We prepared a "toolkit" to help our members and disability advocates to ask for ambitious national rules! Ambitious rules for the European Disability Card, such as asking for wider range of advantages, minimising exceptions to use; Ambitious rules for the European Parking Card, including no fee to issue it. Ambitious rules for both, such as proper funding for the Cards, ensure penalties and fines for non-compliance, and make them valid for longer stays! Explore the guide and contact your national government: https://lnkd.in/exzvvRXy

📢 Citizens of Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany and Poland: Have you experienced ageism or age discrimination? Share your story! AGE supports an important study on discrimination on the grounds of age in the European Union initiated by the European Commission DG Justice & Consumers (DG JUST) and we need your input! Your voice matters! Make a difference by shaping the future of age equality in Europe! 🗣️ 👉 Participate now: www.bit.ly/AgeismStudy Participation is voluntary, anonymous, and fully confidential. #EuropeforAllAges #AgeingEqual

Disability-inclusive employment policies must be a priority. That’s why we are calling for a Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee as part of the updated EU #DisabilityRights Strategy: https://lnkd.in/eWV459n6 - What is it? - Why is it necessary? - How is it different from the Youth Guarantee? Our infographic explains how this proposal can make a difference for persons with disabilities, reduce employment gaps, remove barriers, and tackle discrimination. Swipe through our infographic to find out! Learn more about our other proposals: https://lnkd.in/eSGiwj5h And why we need the next EU budget to support disability rights: https://lnkd.in/eH-xUrNm

Will the removal of protections against bias in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the United States (U.S.) affect global standards? How will the enforcement of AI bans in the EU impact accessibility and inclusion? In the new issue of our #AI and Disability Update, read about: - EU’s guidelines on forbidden AI - U.S. weakening AI bias protections - EDF's new AI project empowering persons with disabilities - Upcoming events on AI Read the latest issue: https://lnkd.in/eA6B9CcV Subscribe to the update: https://lnkd.in/ehDZxttg

📢 Forced Sterilisation in Portugal: Me-CDPD Recommendations The Me-CDPD urgently calls for a change in the law in Portugal to absolutely prohibit forced sterilisation, in line with its recommendations on this issue. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Istanbul Convention require states to criminalise this violation of fundamental rights, including right to integrity (art. 17); protection from exploitation, violence and abuse (art. 16); equal recognition before the law (art. 12), and respect for home and family (art. 23). ⚖️ Me-CDPD Recommendations: ✅ Absolute criminalisation of coercive sterilisation ✅ Decision-making support mechanisms ✅ Prohibition on substitute decisions for sterilisation ✅ Establishment of a redress mechanism for victims ✅ Training for health and legal professional ✅ Monitoring and enforcement It is crucial to raise awareness, listen to the voices of victims, and implement policies that promote dignity, respect, and self-determination. Portugal must bring its legislation into line with international human rights standards. Let this be a priority in the next legislative term! ⚖️ 🤝 #humanrights #forcedsterilisation #inclusion #legislation #CRPD #MeCDPD #Portugal #equality 📧 mecanismoindependente@gmail.com

United Nations experts held a public dialogue with the European Union to review its compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – and much needs to improve. The Dialogue took place on 11 and 12 March. The evaluation - Concluding Observations - will be released in April. The Dialogue shows the need for an updated EU Disability Rights Strategy and for more EU funding to disability rights. Experts noted that there needs to be a thorough review of EU laws to ensure they comply with the Convention. They also pointed that existing monitoring mechanisms are insufficient. They noted some actions that raise concern: - The intention to withdraw the proposed Equal Treatment Directive. - The failure to ban forced sterilisation. - The fact that EU funds still finance segregating institutions. - The proposal of a law on cross-border protection of adults that violates the Convention. - Insufficient opposition to the Council of Europe draft additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention, which allows forced treatment and control. They mentioned the need to improve conditions for staff and candidates to EU Institutions. And much more! Read highlights and selected quotes below and follow us to learn more in the next weeks! Read the United Nations summary: https://lnkd.in/eW3hsAqB