This landmark event underlines the importance of the full participation of persons with disabilities in the European project and plays an important role in ensuring that persons with disabilities feel part of the European Union.
This edition, hosted by the European Parliament's President Roberta Metsola, cements the European Parliament's commitment to realise the UN Convention on the Rights for Persons with Disabilities. It reinforces its role in guaranteeing that Article 10 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union is upheld: "In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation."
The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, stated: "The European Union's motto of 'United in Diversity' means that everyone must have the opportunity to get involved in our European project. We must include all persons with disabilities in our decision-making. And for this we must remove barriers. We are talking about a fifth of our population! Our rights cannot only be nominal, they must be actual. Our Europe must be inclusive and accessible to all."
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, added: "This event is doubly important. By hosting the disability movement in the European Parliament – the EU's house of democracy – the Parliament recognises them as persons that must have a say and fully enjoy their political rights. In addition, the President and the European Parliament also recognised the importance of a fully inclusive future that follows our motto: Nothing for us without us. We thank President Metsola for her renewed engagement with the movement."
REHACARE.com; Source: European Disability Forum
