A Union of Equality: Disability Rights and Strategies

Welcome to this seminar on examples of how to reach equality by using strategies to realize the rights of persons with disabilities.

Persons with disabilities have the right to participate in society on equal terms with others. People's different backgrounds or abilities should not be decisive for such participation. Disability policy aims to create pre-conditions for inclusion and the realisation of human rights of all persons with disabilities.

In order to highlight and raise awareness of the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilitiy, as well as other disability strategies from EU Member States and to facilitate the important exchange of knowledge and experiences, the Swedish government is hosting a seminar on disability policy during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2023. This seminar is organised by the European Commision.

In this seminar, examples of policy frameworks as well as practical solutions on how to improve equality will be presented and discussed. Methods for including persons with disability in the development processes of all matters that concern them will also be highlighted.

To facilitate the experience exchange about disability strategies and cross-sectoral governance, a collection on international and national examples are described in the report Disability rights, strategies and cross-sectoral governance in Europe.

Disability rights, strategies and cross-sectoral governance in Europe (www.mfd.se)

Live stream

You can watch the seminar live.

Watch the live streamning.

A Union of Equality: Disability Rights and Strategies (www.europa.eu)

Contact

For any question, please contact empl-disability-platform@ec.europa.eu or Maria Montefusco at the Swedish Agency for Participation at maria.montefusco@mfd.se.

Programme

Opening session, 09:00-09:30

• Moderator: Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality (video)
• Minna Ljunggren, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services in Sweden
• Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum

Key-note session, 09:30-10.15

How can strategies and action plans contribute to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities? What do we know about success factors? How are actions successfully operationalized with regard to gender equality and the rights of the child?

• Moderator: Minna Ljunggren, State Secretary to the Minister of Social Services
• Ana Peláez Narváez, Chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Break, 10:15-10:30

Equality gaps and the response needed 10:30-10:50

Where do we still find equality gaps, how do we make the best use of European and national strategies and action plans?

• Moderator: Ola Balke, Analyst, Swedish Agency for Participation
• Catherine Naughton, Director, European Disability Forum
• Jonathan Elebjörk Wahlström, European Disability Forum’s Youth committee

Policy response: The European Union’s Strategy, 10:50-11:15

Introduction to and status of key actions in the EU Strategy for the rights of persons with disability 2021-2030.

• Moderator: Marina Carlsson, Board member, Swedish Disability Rights Federation
• Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Policy response and experiences: National examples, 11:15-12:00

Examples of national disability policy and practice for mainstreaming disability rights, accessibility and the connection to international policy framework

Panel of Member State members of the Disability Platform and representatives from civil society in each country speak of experiences working with disability strategies on national level.

• Gunta Anca, Latvian Umbrella Body for disability organisations SUSTENTO
• Elīna Celmiņa, Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia
• Mia Ahlgren, International Policy Director, Swedish Disability Rights Federation
• Minna Ljunggren, State Secretary, Ministry for Health and Social Affairs, Sweden
• Pilar Villarino, Director, The Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities
• Verónica Balmaseda, Head of Area in the Directorate General for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Lunch break, 12:00-13:30

Policy response and experiences: more national examples, 13:30-14:15

Examples of national disability policy and practise for mainstreaming disability rights, accessibility and the connection to international policy frame work.

• Pirkko Mahlamäki, Finnish Disability Forum
• Tea Hoffrén, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Finland
• Marthese Mugliette, President, Malta Federation of Organisations Persons with Disability
• Alistair De Gaetano, Administrator, Directorate for Disability Issues, Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights

Break, 14:15-14:30

Session on inclusive elections and political participation, 14:30-15:30

One year left to the European elections. What are the major challenges? What can be done to reach equality in political participation?

• Moderator: Krzysztof Pater, Vice president of the European Economic and Social Committee
• Marie-Helene Boulanger, Head of Unit Democracy, Union Citizenship and Free Movement and Acting Director Directorate C: Rule of Law, Fundamental Rights and Democracy in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers
• Alejandro Moledo, Deputy Director, European Disability Forum
• Armin Rabitsch, Deputy Chief Observer, Election Watch EU
• Pirkko Mahlamäki, Finnish Disability Forum
• Domenec Ruis Devesa, EU-Parliamentarian and Rapporteur of the new EU electoral law

Feed forward session, 15:30-16:00

What are the next steps to reach a European Union of Equality?

• Moderator: Malin Ekman Aldén, Director General, Swedish Agency for Participation
• Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• Gunta Anca, Vice President of the European Disability Forum

End of seminar, 16:00