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Take part in our current Campaign:
No campaign currently active

 

Read about previous Campaigns

• Strasbourg Freedom Drive Campaign 2005
• Disability Bill Campaign 2005
• European & Local Elections Campaign 2004
• Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups Closure 2004

 

1. Strasbourg Freedom Drive Campaign 2005

From September 5-9 2005, the second 'Strasbourg Freedom Drive' took place, as disabled people throughout Europe converged on the European Parliament in Strasbourg. An initiative of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), Strasbourg '05 followed the first Freedom Drive in 2003 (click here for full report on the 2003 Drive), when eight key demands were presented to the EU Parliament amid much fanfare and commitment to deliver mainstream opportunities for disabled people in what was then, the European Year of the Disabled. One of the main issues highlighted in 2003 was the lack of cohesive personal assistance services throughout Europe. ENIL believes that the money spent on institutionalising disabled people in every nation can be better spent on direct payments to people, rather than costly institutions. Support for personal assistants to those in need would afford disabled people the opportunity to live with independence and dignity in the community as well as providing much greater value for money. Rather than creating more institutions to hide people away in, we should be creating more active citizens, citizens who are free to contribute to society and our knowledge based economy.

Two years on and the slow rate of progress towards ending the historic culture of institutionalisation and segregation experienced by millions of disabled people throughout Europe prompted the question - 'just how committed IS the EU and its institutions to the citizenship and participation of disabled people?' Strasbourg '05 participants asked this question as they met with their MEPs, the Court of Human Rights, and other bodies concerned with the protection of disabled peoples human rights, presenting three key demands. Click here for more information and photos of the Strasbourg '05 trip.

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 on the Freedom Drive key demands and a copy of the MEP letter sent.

2. Disability Bill Campaign
On September 21 2004, the Government launched their long awaited ‘National Disability Strategy' - presenting it to us as positive action to support participation by people with disabilities in everyday life. However, the Bill had serious shortcomings, and would not improve lives but force people with disabilities into a bureaucratic nightmare in the search for essential services. Like every Irish citizen, people with disabilities need, and are entitled to, quality services.

In April 2005, just before the Bill's second stage drew to a close and it entered the critical Committee stage, CIL Carmichael House ran a Disability Bill Campaign to refresh legislators memories with regard to the many issues and concerns about this legislation raised over the preceding number of months (click here to read more about these issues). The many mails sent through this site, and the actions taken by CILs around the country to highlight the issues were reflected on 13 April - with mention of the work of CILs, and reading of the Disability Bill Campaign Letter in the Dail.

The second stage of the Bill drew to a close on 19 April, entering Committee Stage on Tuesday May 3rd. Track the latest stage of this legislation, and its various amendments, on the Oireachtas website. For more information on the Disability Legislation, click here.

3. European & Local Elections Campaign 2004
During the 2004 Local and European Elections, CIL Carmichael House ran advocacy campaigns requesting the support of the candidates on a number of key issues.

• Click here to view the Disability Rights and Independent Living issues highlighted in the Local Election, Dáil Eireann campaign , which culminated in a large number of CILs converging on Dáil Eireann on 26 November.
• Click here to view the key issues highlighted in the European Election campaign .
• Feedback from your local and European election candidates on our campaign issues are available here to view .

 

4. Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups Closure 2004
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups has been given emergency funding to ensure it's survival up to Dec 2004. However will core funding be forthcoming to ensure member groups are operational from the Centre in 2005? Please support the Carmichael Centre and it's member group activities beyond 2004. Click here for more details or for feedback from Government Ministers and TDs in relation to the closure.

 

 

 

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