From 14 to 16 October 2024, the Italian towns of Assisi and Solfagnano hosted a G7 (Group of 7) ministerial meeting that was for the first time dedicated exclusively to the topics of inclusion and disability. Day 3, 16 October, marked the adoption of the Solfagnano Charter, a groundbreaking document that contains commitments for the G7 countries to advance the realisation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Autism-Europe’s Italian members were represented at the meeting in various forms, with stands, exhibitions, speeches, and even showcasing their professional skills by providing catering for the attendees.
Solfagnano Charter
On the agenda on Wednesday morning 16 October was the adoption of the “Charter of Solfagnano”, with 8 priorities on which the G7 countries commit to take action and support policies for inclusion and empowerment.
Autism-Europe welcomes the scope of the charter and its strong commitment to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in the following areas and beyond:
- Inclusion as a priority issue in the political agenda of all countries;
- Access and accessibility;
- Autonomous and independent life;
- Enhancement of talents and work inclusion;
- Promotion of new technologies;
- Sports, recreational and cultural dimensions of life;
- Dignity of life and appropriate community-based services;
- Prevention and management of emergency preparedness and post-emergency management situations, including climate crises, armed conflicts and humanitarian crises
It is now essential that the G7 signatories involve people with disabilities, in all their diversity, and their representative organisations in co-designing and implementing a clear action plan to follow-up on these commitments. Adequate resources and funding should be earmarked to support a meaningful participation of disability organisations, and the necessary actions resulting from the action plan.
Autism-Europe looks forward to cooperating and sharing the priorities of the autism community so that the needs of autistic people and their families are addressed.
Active involvement of AE members to represent autistic people and showcase their skills
AE’s Italian members, including ANGSA and ANFASS, were represented at the meeting in various ways. Young people from Luna Blu provided some delicious food and delicacies during the meeting. Ten years ago, our affiliated member Fondazione Il Domani dell’Autismo started a large programme to support autistic adults from the moment they finish school to as long as necessary for the rest of their lives, with access to sports or work-related occupational activities or leisure activities. Luna Blu La Spezia was established five years ago and is part of the project Living Life of La Fondazione Il Domani dell’Autismo. At the time, Autism-Europe and its members were proud to take part in its launch.
It is not the first time that they have had the opportunity to showcase their culinary talent on the international stage. Last June already, Luna Blu representatives took pasta around the world as seven representatives cooked caserecce al pesto at the UN in New York during the 17th UN Conference on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This October, during the ministerial G7 meeting, they presented their pesto pasta and their products in Assisi and Solfagnano. “The autistic young people were proud to be involved in the catering of the official dinner!”
Preview picture by: Luna Blu La Spezia/Fondazione Il Domani dell’Autismo, Alberto Brunetti