European Disability Forum

The main square of Zaragoza with the 1st prize

The main square of Valencia with mention "2nd prize"

The main square of Rennes with mention 3rd Prize

And the winners of the #AccessCity Awards are...

🥇Zaragoza 🇪🇸
🥈 Valencia 🇪🇸
🥉Rennes 🇫🇷

Congratulations to all the winners!

The garden and famous castle of Salzsburg and next to words 'special Mention to accessibility in housing '

And the Special Mention to accessibility in housing goes to...

Salzburg

The main square of Valencia showing a nice fountain and the saying special mention for accessibility preparedness

And the Special Mention to accessibility in emergency preparedness goes to ...

Valencia

The main square of Piacenza with a big church, with the text 'Special Mention for Information and Communications Technology'

And the Special Mention for Information and Communications Technology goes to...

Piacenza

The Access City prizes in a table

Tune in now for the #AccessCity Awards announcement: t.co/9lwO2987bK

#EDPD2025 #EUDisabilityRights

Ioannis Vardakastanis speaks

Our President @IVardakastanis reminds participant

"Europe no longer has the luxury of reflection without action. Not when 100 million persons with disabilities still face systemic exclusion"

"Commitments must be at the hear of governments' priorities and budget"

#EDPD2025

Cypriot representative

The EU Presidencies of #Denmark and #Cyprus open the session:
- Denmark focus on the need to ensure independent living in the community
- Cyprus commits to continue working on a strong #DisabilityRights agency with focus on supported decision-making and support services.

Commissioner Lahbib speaking

Commissioner @hadjalahbib opens the Conference calling on everyone to participate in the public consultation for the #DisabilityRights Strategy.

"During my mandate, accessibility, independent living and employment will continue to be top priorities"

Poster for the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, 4-5 December 2025.

The #EDPD2025 is starting.
Join us for:
- #DisabilityRights Strategy
- Inclusive #EUBudget

Tomorrow:
- #AccessCity Awards
- Preparedness

Follow online: webcast.ec.europa.eu/the-european...

A post with the following text: "On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities we call on European Union Institutions to: - Strengthen funding for European and national organisations of persons with disabilities in the next MFF. - Reverse restrictions and ensure funding for civil society, including advocacy that protects citizens’ rights. - Boost civil society support: recommit to the ECBA Directive, monitor civic space, and protect Human Rights Defenders.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilites #IDPD, we denounce ongoing attacks on funding for civil society.

Adequate funding is key to this defending our rights.

We call on the EU and its countries to reverse this trend.

Read: www.edf-feph.org/internationa...

A banner for Accesisble Europe Region conference, with the information of Ioannis Vardakastins, President of European Disability Forum and the Green national disability confederation. Next yo it, a stilised version of a person in a square and a circle over a picture of a big square with old building

Today, our President, Ioannis Vardakastanis and Deputy Director, Alejandro Moledo, intervene at the #AccessibleEurope event:
- More investment by organisations
- A EU Regulatory agency on #accessibility
- Enforcement of the #AccessibilityAct
- More legislation to close gaps

Accessible Spaces for All Conference opening and keynote speakers: Alejandro Moledo (EDF) and Emiliano Deferrari (European Network Accessible Tourism) listening to Clara Kiess speaking (European Commission, Interreg Central Europe Programme Officer). Behind them, posters of the Accessible Spaces for All project on what they achieved).

Today we are at the Accessible Tourism for All conference in Brussels!

With #CESpaces4All project partners and contributions from the @ec.europa.eu, disability rights organisations, and tourism networks, we will explore:

- Good inclusive practices and tools
- Advocating for #AccessibleTourism

Air travel: report exposes multiple barriers for passengers with disabilities Nearly 7 in 10 people with disabilities consider that they are discriminated against when flying. These are the stark findings of our 9th Human Rights Report: “Rights Delayed: Air Travel for…

Nearly 7 in 10 people with disabilities face discrimination when flying.

Our new Human Rights Report released today exposes airlines and systems that still treat passengers with disabilities as an afterthought.

It is time for the EU to take action!
www.edf-feph.org/air-travel-r...

25 November – EU must combat violence against women and girls with disabilities Today, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we call on the European Union and EU countries to take strong action to protect the rights, safety, and dignity of women and…

On #VAW Day we call on the EU to protect women and girls with disabilities!

The EU must act now to ban forced sterilisation, ensure accessible services, collect disability-disaggregated data and fully implement the Istanbul Convention and CRPD

European Parliament Disability Rights Week: back for its third edition! From 1 to 5 December 2025, the European Parliament will host its Third Disability Rights Week. This high-level week brings disability issues into focus. Parliamentarians join other policymakers and…

The @europarl.europa.eu Disability Rights Week is back! From 1 to 5 December, policymakers and civil society meet to keep #DisabilityRights high on the EU agenda.

We will speak at several events to discuss housing, legal capacity, accessibility and more.

More info: www.edf-feph.org/european-par...

Cover of Disaster by Design publication, showing an indundated street with dry stairs

Heatwaves in Andalucia.
Floods in Belgium.

Climate change is life threatening to persons with disabilities.

Our new briefing reveals the human cost of inaccessible responses, and how climate legislations can be inclusive.

Read 'Disaster by Design': www.edf-feph.org/publications...

Hello Eric, we are supporting the EU in pushing EU countries to ensure accessible infrastructure - including wheelchair accessible public space. This was a main demand for our campaign on the #AccessibilityAct.

Why climate solutions need to be disability friendly It is undeniable that policymakers are responsible for involving persons with disabilities in solutions to address climate change. However, the climate and disability movements must present a united f...

People with disabilities and their organisations are still largely shut off from the climate conversation.

Ahead of #COP30, we explored how climate organisations and disability advocates can work together.

Read at @euobserver.com:

euobserver.com/health-and-s...

Disability Intergroup Newsletter 2025 - Issue 3. Intergroup meetings, Disability Rights Week and more. MEPs’ work awareness raising, digital transition, housing crisis. Council Conclusions on Independent Living, EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, EU Migration and Asylum Strategy and more. Interview with MEP Alícia Homs: “It is essential to recognise housing as a fundamental right.” #EPDisability

The #EPDisability Intergroup newsletter is out!
➡️ Update on Intergroup meetings and Members' work on #DisabilityRights
➡️ Interview with MEP @aliciahoms on the EU housing crisis: www.edf-feph.org/interview-wi...

Read: mailchi.mp/edf-feph.org...
Subscribe: edf-feph.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

alt="A young wheelchair-user, with a spare wheel on the back of her wheelchair, faces steps up to see a unique, monumental church. It's a round church fully painted in gold witha greenish cupule. "

Join policymakers, experts and advocates in discussing solutions at our #Accessible Tourism Conference.

Join us on 27 November, in-person in Brussels: forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

"EU member states have clearly tried to let themselves off the hooks" on Independent Living

Thank you @euronews.com ' reporters @martairaola.bsky.social and @pausoler98.bsky.social for featuring our take in news story on Council Conclusions:

www.euronews.com/my-europe/20...

EU Artificial Intelligence Act webinar: Updated toolkit launch Following our webinar on 15 October 2024, we are continuing the conversation on the EU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act and its impact on persons with disabilities. In this new session, the European…

Join us online at 14h CET to discuss the launch of this guide: www.edf-feph.org/events-slug/...

A robot reads a book with AI written on it. Next to it the name of the toolkit 'A disability-inclusive Artificial Intelligence Act: updated guide to monitor implementation in your country'

Today, we launched an updated version of our toolkit on the #ArtificialIntelligence Act.
It explores how new guidelines can support disability rights:
- Prohibited #AI
- Definition of AI systems
- AI Code of Practice

Explore the toolkit: www.edf-feph.org/publications...

We congratulate @oiieurope.bsky.social for the advocacy on this Recommendation.

It is a good Recommendation that protects bodily autonomy. The Committee of Ministers must remain consistent with it by withdrawing the Additional Protocol!
2/2

On the left, EDF Board member Kristijan Grđan speaking in a panel. He is wearing a yellow tie and is flanked by people. A sign interpreter is interpreting in a picture-in-picture setting on the bottom right

Our Board Member Kristijan Grđan addressed @coe.int during the launch of the Recommendation on Equal Rights for Intersex Persons!

He stated that our movements share the fight to end non-consensual medical interventions.

Withdrawal of additional protocol for Oviedo Convention must follow!
1/2

Interview with MEP Alícia HOMS: “By prioritising accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing, the EU can empower persons with disabilities” - European Disability Forum Interview with MEP Alícia HOMS, member of the Disability Intergroup: EU housing crisis, next EU budget and disability rights priorities.

Happy to share some thoughts with the @myedf.bsky.social!

🏠 We discussed how prioritising accessible, affordable and inclusive #housing can empower people with #disabilities across #Europe.

🔎📰 www.edf-feph.org/interview-wi...

@socialistsanddemocrats.eu

alt="A photo of EU flags and the Commission Builidng overlaid in light blue tones, with text: 'Good news!' 'New actions on Disability Rights Strategy in 2026!"

Good news: the European Commission marks its commitment to enhance the #DisabilityRights Strategy in 2026.

This commitment is inscribed in its 2026 workplan. We now need concrete actions and the funding to go with them!

Our reaction: www.edf-feph.org/commission-c...

Photo of Ioannis Vardakastanis, President of EDF with a quote "While the Council Conclusions do accurately reflect many of the things the disability movement is calling for, the Member States have clearly tried to let themselves off the hook: both in terms of admitting their own shortcomings, and in terms of committing to concrete actions that would pave the way for improvements."

The @consilium.europa.eu adopted Conclusions on independent living for persons with disabilities.

The Conclusions present a clear diagnosis of the problems but avoid solutions.

It is clear: EU funds must be earmarked and conditional to best practices.

Read: www.edf-feph.org/eu-council-c...

Two hands holding 4 coins. Behind, an EU flag.

Today is #EndPoverty Day.

As the EU drafts its first Anti-Poverty Strategy, we are worried: 29% of the disability community is at risk of poverty, and the situation has worsened over the past decade.
We need targeted actions to address the unique challenges we face:
www.edf-feph.org/the-eus-figh...