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From: The "European Congress on People with Disabilities" is promoted by the Fundaci?n Luis Vives, the Fundaci?n ONCE, and the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. It also benefits from the support and advice of the European Disability Forum (EDF). This Conference will serve as a forum to analyse, debate, propose and promote new community policies that will make it possible to advance a new model for the full social inclusion of people with disabilities in Europe. The "Madrid Declaration", a declaration of a political nature conceived as a reflection of the work done in the Congress, will include legislative and political proposals as well as proposals for action for the year 2003: "European Year of People with Disabilities". The Congress will be attended by members of associations of people with disabilities in Europe, as well as representatives of public authorities of different Member States and candidate countries, EU institutions, business and trade union associations and other social agents whose collaboration and commitment is absolutely necessary in order for people with disabilities to reach true social integration. There will be six workshops which will analyse each of the aspects that are considered of key importance for the achievement of a real integration of people with disabilities in every area of society (Accessibility, Human Rights/Non-discrimination, Education, Employment and Training, Social Integration and Social Exclusion, General Awareness). Mental Health Europe will be responsible for the workshop “Social Integration and Social Exclusion”.
UNITED NATIONS In February, Ben Lindqvist, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability presented his 2002 report to the 40th sessions of the UN Commission for Social Development. The report contains a brief account of the missions and other activities carried out during the period. Ben Lindqvist states in his report that the UN Standard Rules for the Equalisation Opportunities for Disabled Persons play a major role in policy development and as a tool for advocacy. Furthermore the recognition by the Commission on Human Rights of the UN Standard Rules as a yardstick for measures to combat exclusion and discrimination has further strengthened the position of this document.
Ben Lindqvist has identified 4 areas that the UN should develop in the struggle against social exclusion and human rights abuse in the disability field:
1. To complement the Standard Rules 2. To suggest measures for further development of disability as a human right issue 3. To improve co-operation within the UN system in the field of disability 4. To examine forms for future monitoring of the Standard Rules.
The report proposes a supplement to the UN Standard Rules in 15 different areas. The most important one for Mental Health Europe and its members is a new text about issues concerning persons with developmental or psychiatric disabilities. Other important new contributions concern:
· Adequate standard of living · Housing, including the issue of residential institutions · Persons with disabilities in emergency situations · Violence and abuse · Gender issues · Children with disabilities
Info: Office of the Special Rapporteur on Disability of the Commission for Social Development, Spektern, S-10333 Stockholm, tel: +46-8-405.24.21, fax: +46-8-611.80.03, e-mail: un-spec.rapp@telia.com
European Year of Disabled People As announced in our last Newsletter, the Ministers of Employment and Social Affairs unanimously adopted on 3 December 2001 the Commission proposal to declare 2003 the European Year of People with Disabilities.
A budget of 12 million Euro was approved to finance the initiatives throughout the year. 4 million Euro will be spent on preparatory activities in 2002.
It is important to note that the European Year of People with Disabilities will not only be undertaken at European level but also at national, regional and local level. The European Commission has appointed a European Advisory Committee, which will monitor the decision-making process of the Year and guarantee a good information flow between all stakeholders involved at national and European level. Member States have been asked to create national co-ordinating bodies. These national committees must be composed of representatives of a wide-range of disability organisations and other relevant stakeholders. As they are responsible for the distribution of the global grant allocated by the European Commission to each Member State, they must also be public law bodies or bodies with a public-service mission.
In 2001, the European Commission had launched an open call for tenders concerning the European year informational and promotional campaign. The aim of this campaign is to back up legislation and to increase understanding and acceptance of the rights and the needs of people with disabilities in society. The global campaign will be carried out by a Public Relation company and will start in 2002 (preparatory phase), will continue during the European Year and finish at the end of 2003. There will also be awareness raising initiatives at national, local and regional level carried out by Member States.
INTERNET Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Portal The Portal aims to be a world-wide, interactive, personalised forum for the sharing of information by people whose lives are touched by mental health problems and/or learning disabilities. This includes people with mental health problems or learning disabilities, their parents, friends, carers, educators and therapists, as well as researchers, legislators and volunteers. You can receive up-to-date information about these issues, with the latest news items posted each week on your personal notice board by registering on the site. This web site is a conjoint effort of the Mental Health Foundation and the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities.
Address: http://www.connects.org.uk |
"International workshop
on sign language Interpreting in mental health and Deafness settings " |
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PSYCHOSOCIAL
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