Center for Independent LivingIndependence, Options, Rights, Empowerment
The Dail Campaign
Centers for Independent Living (CILs) throughout Ireland, launched the CIL Dail Eireann Campaign on the 18th November 2003. The campaign culminated on November 26th when all Centers for Independent Living converged on Dail Eireann and met with their TDs and Senators, highlighting disability rights and independent living issues specific to people with disabilities throughout Ireland.
The Dail campaign, launched at the end of the European Year of People with disabilities, recognised that although 800 people in Ireland with disabilities were now living independently in Ireland through the work of the Center for Independent Living, the tip of the iceberg had not yet been touched.
The five key demands brought forward to the politicians were:
- National policy and appropriate funding levels for a countrywide programme on Personal Assistance services (Direct Payments). Stable and adequate funding of persoanl services is crucial to the ability of people with disabilities to live independently and with the same rights and opportunities as any other citizen of the state. This will help to combat the loss of CE schemes currently happening throughout the country.
- Rights based legislation to be enacted in Ireland. A rights-based disability bill would protect the fundamental human rights of people with disabilities in Ireland and end the widespread discrimination they experience in the e3ptrovision of basic services from the State. We must achieve our National, European and International obligations and create a society where all people can participate fully and equally.
- A significant reduction in the numbers of people with disabilities being forced into residential settings. There are as many more disabled incarcerated in institutions and "closed spaces" as there were before the Independent Living Movement began. An absolute violation of human rights occurs when a person is, without choice, placed in these institutions, without any guarantee of ever leaving. This must be addressed immediately.
- The need to develop a greater awareness of the needs and rights of the 37 million, soon to be 50 million, people with disabilities in Europe. It is vital that disability awareness is raised throughout Europe. We must share information, communicate issues, needs and rights, and most importantly, collaborate with one European voice.
- The need to ring fence 5% of disability proofing funding to provide service s fro people with disabilities in developing countries. Over three quarters of the worlds disabled people constitute the poorest sections of society in almost every developing country. CIL has always supported the need for the disability proofing of overseas development aid, so that rights based approaches are applied to the expenditure of monies on people with disabilities in the majority world.
Below are some of the responses of certain TDs to the above five demands:
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Ireland.
Tel. 01 8730455
01 8730986
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Email:
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