MHE key activities in the field of Disability
MHE has been involved the European Disability Forum (EDF) 10th anniversary campaign, '1million4disability '. This campaign, launched on 23 January 2007, aimed at collecting one million signatures across the European Union in favour of a comprehensive European disability legislation that will protect disabled people from discrimination in all fields of life. On 4 October 2007, a massive and festive outdoor gathering took place in Brussels and signatures were handed over to the EU leaders. The ‘1million4disability' campaign successfully collected 1.364.984 signatures.
MHE supports the EDF campaign on air passengers' rights targeted at the adoption of common safety rules in Europe, as well as the wide dissemination of the provisions of the law. Efforts are also concentrated on improving the regulation and obtaining similar legislation for all forms of transport.
Recently MHE took part in two significant European studies.
The first one, led by Inclusion Europe and managed by the Commission's Unit for the Integration of People with Disabilities, focused on the specific risks of discrimination against persons in situation of major dependence or with complex needs . The study aimed to help better understand the obstacles faced by people with high dependency and to explore the ways to promote independent living. The study launched a discussion on the ways to promote person centred services in the community as a mean of fighting discrimination against people with high dependency.
The second one, "Deinstitutionalisation and Community Living - Outcomes and Costs ", was the result of a project funded by the European Commission and implemented by a European consortium led by the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent, the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent and the London School of Economics (DECLOC Project). It aimed to help European governments modernise services for disabled people by replacing institutional care with community-based services that are focused on improving disabled people's quality of life and promoting their equal participation in society.
MHE works together with the EDF on the rights of women and young girls with disability, which was recognised as a key issue by a report of the European Parliament (EP) adopted in April 2007. MHE was represented at the European Conference "Recognising the Rights of Girls and Women with Disabilities - An Added Value for Tomorrow's Society", jointly organised in Madrid (Spain) by the Disabled Women Committee of EDF and CERMI (Spanish Committee of Representatives of Disabled People) on 18 November 2007. The purpose of the conference - held within the framework of the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All - was to promote equality and improve the lives of girls and women with disabilities in Europe in order to mark the 10th anniversary of the EDF Manifesto by Girls and Women with Disabilities in Europe. During the conference, the Declaration on Women and Disability was presented and adopted.
Recently MHE took part to a significant email group as expert on disability issues by working together with EDF on the Article 12 of the CRPD and particularly on the definition of what should be understood by "Equal recognition before the law and equal capacity to act" aiming at an EDF position on this article.
MHE participated as well to the consultation on quality of services for disabled persons within EDF.
MHE is following up EDF campaign on European elections in 2009.
MHE is lobbying for a good implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by training its members at national level to make them lobby their national government for an implementation which provides a legal tool for persons with disabilities including persons with mental health problems.
MHE is a founding member of the European Coalition for Community Living (ECCL). ECCL aims at promoting the provision of comprehensive and quality-based services as an alternative to institutionalisation.
MHE is a member of the ECCL Advisory Council, which helps ECCL to maintain its cross-disability perspective by advising on its strategy, particular issues related to community living and various activities.
MHE is regularly involved in the organisation and implementation of ECCL Seminars: "The Right to Live in the Community" (May 2006, Brussels, Belgium), "Involving people with disabilities in the development, provision and evaluation of quality community-based services" (April 2007, Zagreb, Croatia).
MHE collaborates with the European Parliament Disability Intergroup.
