1. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g EUROPEAN DISABILITY FORUM: WORK & VISION PEKKA TUOMINEN Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities FPD

2. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g Table of contents: 1What is the European Disability Forum ? 2United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 3 Priority work areas EDF: WORK & VISION

3. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g What is the European Disability Forum ? Established in 1996 Non-profit European umbrella organisation OF persons with disabilities and their organisations More than 120 member organisations: 29 National Councils (27 EU Member States, Norway and Iceland) 24 European disability-specific NGOs + other European, regional & national NGOs concerned with disabilities Defends & promotes rights of persons with disabilities in the European legislation EDF: WORK & VISION

4. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g EDF missions, values and vision Mission → guarantee Fundamental Rights and active participation of persons with disabilities human rights equal opportunities non-discrimination positive and constructive approach Vision → a society that includes people with disabilities is a better society Values → EDF: WORK & VISION

5. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g EDF achievements 1997 - reference in the EU treaty 2000 - first European directive protecting persons with disabilities in the employment field - European Charter of Fundamental Rights 2001- directive on accessibility to public city buses 2003- is the European year of persons with disabilities 2004- directive on public procurement 2006- first specific legislation for disabled air passengers - principles of non-discrimination and accessibility European Structural Funds 2007 - more than 1.300.000 citizens underwrote our “1million4disability” campaign in favor of a wide-reaching legislation in the field of disability - first conference held at EU’s ministerial level on disability issues in Berlin EDF: WORK & VISION

6. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g There are more than 65 million citizens in Europe with a disability Persons with disabilities face discrimination and prejudice on a daily basis and in all fields of life Persons with disabilities do not have equal access to education, are on the top of unemployment rates and generally live on significantly lower income Persons with disabilities cannot move around freely, go to work, to a restaurant, to theatres, to cinemas, to libraries, shopping, meet friends, or any other daily activity, due to inaccessible public transport, pavements or buildings EDF: WORK & VISION Discrimination

7. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g EDF in the Brussels lobbying arena Brussels15.000 lobbyists 2.600 interest groups EDF makes our voice heard towards the European institutions EDF consults NGOs, industry, consumers & social partners EDF provides real expertise to the EU decision-makers and has long standing experience working with the EU institutions EDF: WORK & VISION

8. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g Disability and Europe Disability and social policies- not a EU competence –Legislation on non discrimination is exception EU competences that have an impact on persons with disabilities: –Transport, gender violence, access to goods and services, safety of products... EDF: WORK & VISION

9. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g A response to an overlooked development challenge (approximately 10% of the world’s population are persons with disabilities). Persons with disabilities continued being denied their human rights and were kept on the margins of society in all parts of the world. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN Convention

10. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g The Convention sets out the legal obligations on States to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. It does not create new rights. Both a development and a human rights instrument A policy instrument which is cross-disability and cross- sectoral Legally binding United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN Convention

11. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g 147 signatories + 95 ratifications First human rights treaty to be ratified by the EU 14 ratifications in the EU Will inform all EU policies and procedures- now is the benchmark for all Involvement of DPOs is an obligation United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities UN Convention

12. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g Horizontal proposal that covers four grounds Must close gap in protection against discrimination Will cover access to goods and services, healthcare, social protection, education The decision is in the hands of EU Member States! Equal Treatment Directive Priority work areas

13. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g De-institutionalisation and living in the community Provision of adequate and affordable services of high quality based on choice Social inclusion through accessible environment, inclusive education and access to employment Independent living Priority work areas

14. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g Respect for “design for all” principle Common standards on accessibility Specific legislation on e-Accessibility Equal access to financial services and insurance Access to goods and services Priority work areas

15. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g Implementation of the passengers’ rights legislation Completion of the transport package with new proposals (on accessibility of ships and coaches) Standards and wise use of the Structural Funds to achieve accessibility Access to transport and built environment Priority work areas

16. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g European Disability Pact- 2010 Annual Campaign The Disability Pact is the European framework for disability policies We are asking the EU institutions, including the Member States for: stronger commitment to disability issues clear indicators and disability mainstreaming in all relevant areas of life Many elements are now in the new EU disability strategy for the next decade A Council decision is needed to make this strategy more than a recommendation for the EC, more than wishful thinking Priority work areas

17. Nothing About Us Without Us w w w. e d f - f e p h. o r g More info: www.edf-feph.org EDF