Living Independently and Being Included:
Understanding and Implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
12 - 13 September 2008, Oslo (Drammen), Norway
The European Coalition for Community Living (ECCL) organised its third annual seminar in Drammen, Norway on 12 - 13 September 2008, in cooperation with ULOBA - Cooperative on personal assistance. The topic of the seminar was the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Convention), with a focus on Article 19.
Altogether 93 participants from 26 countries gathered at the headquarters of ULOBA. Among them were representatives of disabled people's organisations, service providers, academics, civil servants (from the local, regional and national level) and the European Commission. Over one and a half days, they had a chance to learn about the UN Convention and discuss the opportunities and barriers to its implementation in an inclusive environment which is in itself an example of what the UN Convention is all about.
The seminar aimed to give participants an insight into the Convention and help them gain a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities in implementing the document in their countries. Participants also explored the opportunities for using the Convention to promote community living for people with disabilities in Europe and discussed existing examples of good practice.
Conclusions of the study De-institutionalisation and Community Living - Outcomes and Costs were presented and participants had the opportunity to discuss various aspects of moving from an institutional system to community-based model of services in three parallel workshops.
Actions of the European Commission in respect of the Convention were explained by the Head of the Disability Unit at the Commission Mr. Johan Ten-Geuzendam and participants had the opportunity to find out about the impact the Convention is likely to have in the European Union.
During the course of the seminar, participants were invited to complete a Survey on the UN Disability Convention, the aim of which was to inform ECCL about developments in different countries and provide ideas about activities ECCL could undertake in the future. The survey can still be completed by clicking on the link below.
The full report from the Seminar will be available by the end of October 2008. Presentations by Prof. Gerard Quinn and Mr. Johan Ten Geuzendam will be published in the next issue of the ECCL Newsletter (scheduled for October 2008).
Survey
Link to Survey
Presentations (Plenary Sessions)
Findings of the study ‘Deinstitutionalisation and Community Living - Outcomes and Costs' - Prof. Jim Mansell (Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK)
The UN convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Independent Living - Camilla Parker (Open Society Mental Health Initiative, Hungary/UK)
Drafting of a national de-institutionalisation policy: the process, challenges and solutions - Christian Kielland (Ministry of Children and Equality, Norway)
Quality community-based services for people with intellectual disabilities in Norway - Helga Brun (ULOBA - Cooperative on Personal Assistance, Norway)
Practicalities of changing from institutional to community-based model in Central and Eastern Europe: Croatian experience - Bojana Rozman (Association for Promoting Inclusion, Croatia)
Facilitating the implementation of the Disability Convention in Europe - Johan Ten Geuzendam (Head of Unit, Integration of People with Disabilities, European Commission)
What potential for change?: implementing Article 19 - Prof. Steven Eidelman (University of Delaware, U.S.)
Presentations (Workshops)
Policy making and stakeholder cooperation - Christy Lynch (KARE, Ireland)
Delivering quality services - Milena Johnova (QUIP, Czech Republic)
Programme and list of participants
Final Programme (.pdf)
Final Programme (.doc)