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Tel. 01 8730455
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Strasbourg Freedom Drive - 5-8 September 2005
Click here to view pictures from Strasbourg or to read a full report on the Strasbourg 2005 Trip
Background
In 2004, Irish participants of the 2003 Freedom Drive to Strasbourg had a reunion in Ennis, Co Clare, both to recall the 2003 campaign, and to start planning 'Strasbourg 2005!'. The 2003 event was an initiative of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), to highlight the common requirements of people with disabilities throughout Europe, and to bring Independent Living to the attention of the European Parliament. Although successful in terms of strengthening solidarity amongst people with disabilities, the 2003 campaign did not realize the Eight Key Demands it set out to achieve. For this reason a second, campaign was planned for September 2005.
Strasbourg 2005 was a Europe-wide event to foster and support the active citizenship of disabled people in the European Union, particulary those who are personal assistance users and who aspire towards Independent Living. The event also aimed to highlight the needs of disabled people in developing countries.
The campaign raised awareness of the facts surrounding disability within the EU - and the real experiences of disabled people across Europe. There are over 60 million disabled people in Europe - some 3 million of these living in institutions with this number increasing all the time. Imagine 3 million adults denied the opportunity to make decisions about how and when they get out of bed, how and when their personal care needs are met, or make personal choices that other European citizens make on a daily basis
Is it really acceptable for 3 million people to be incarcerated in institutions where their human rights are too frequently ignored? Many have not chosen to live in such places, nor are they obliged to stay. Strasbourg 2005 campaigned for the rights of all disabled people to live independently and have the same opportunites in life that non-disabled people have. Please click here to read the Strasbourg 2005 Campaigns specific demands.
Between 5-8 of September 2005 over 100 people with disabilities from all across Europe converged on the European Parliament in Strasbourg to highlight the Independent Living and Human Rights issues we feel need action. They met with their respective MEPs (click here to view correspondance with MEPs), with the European Parliament Disability Inter-group, the European Commission and the European Court of Human Rights. The itinerary for Strasbourg 2005:
To support the Freedom Drivers across Europe, CIL Carmichael House ran an Email campaign throughout the Freedom Drive week, aimed at the EU Disability Intergroup - a cross party group of EU MEPs from all countries and all major political groups working within the EU Parliament on disability policy. Through this campaign, participants across Europe asked the Disability Intergroup members what quantifiable support they, and the entire EU Parliament are bringing to ensure real freedom for disabled people within the EU. Click here for more details.
Newsletters
| Strasbourg 2005 DVD Launch - 22 February 2006!! A short DVD on this 2005 IL trip to the EU Parliament in Strasbourg was officially launched on Wednesday 22 February in the National Disability Authority (NDA). |
Strasbourg Freedom Drive Photos!
Meeting MEPs
Freedom Drive Rally
Freedom Drive Rally
Freedom Drive Rally