The 2024 edition of the European Day of Persons with Disabilities conference took place in Brussels on November 28-29.
Over the course of these two days, an engaging conference took place during the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event brought together a diverse range of voices, including policymakers, high-level experts, representatives from international and European institutions, and disability advocates, all sharing their expertise and experiences.
During the first day, the main activities were held across two panels. The first panel, moderated by Humberto Insolera (Executive Committee member), Lucie Davoine (Acting Head of disability Unit), Karine Lalieux (Belgian Minister of Pensions and Social Integration), Anna Drabarz (Polish Disability Forum) and Christophe Lefèvre (President of the Permanent Group on Disability Right), focused on discussing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, ensuring the success of the second phase. In the second panel, moderated by Lucie Davoine (Acting Head of disability Unit), Alzira da Conceição Costa Fernandes (Inclusion Europe), Alexandra Lopes (University of Porto), John Patrick Clarke (Vice-President, EDF) and Kirsi Konola (President, European Association of Services Providers for Persons with Disabilities), the focus was set on the right to independent living, and, as with panel 1, the debate continued and ended with a Q&A session.
During the second day, the European Comission and the EDF organized and celebrated the Access City Award Ceremony, which awards EU cities that prioritize accessibility since 2010. This year is especially significant, as it marks the 15th anniversary of the award.
Vienna has been awarded with the 2025 Access City Award in recognition of its exceptional efforts to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities. The city’s holistic approach, which integrates social, economic, and environmental sustainability, serves as an exemplary model of how large capital cities can embed accessibility into all aspects of urban life. All metro stations and more than 95% of bus and tram stops are accessible, featuring tactile guidance systems, low-floor vehicles, and multisensory emergency systems. Vienna is the second Austrian city to receive the Access City Award, following Salzburg’s win in 2012.
EDbN attended with a deafblind person and a team member who had the opportunity to highlight the need for census, awareness and the inclusion of the point of view of deafblind people. Taking the opportunity, EDbN also reported the needs and news of the deafblind community to Helena Dalli, the Commissioner for equality.
The European Commission, in collaboration with the European Disability Forum, organizes the annual “European Day of Persons with Disabilities” (EDPD) conference. This event is part of the EU’s broader initiative to raise awareness and address the daily challenges encountered by persons with disabilities. It also serves as a platform to incorporate disability-related issues into mainstream policies, aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the 2021-2030 Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
17/12/2024