High-level videoconference on the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030

The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union will organize a high-level videoconference on the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 on the 19^th and 20^th of April.

One of the main priorities of the Portuguese Presidency is to strengthen the social component of the European Union, aiming at a Union of Equality. For this purpose, it is essential to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, which includes the Strategy on the Rights of People with Disabilities and which is based on the values of equality, social justice, freedom, democracy, human rights and combating all forms of discrimination.

It is in order to reflect on these challenges and on the way forward, that we invite political leaders, European institutions, entities representing people with disabilities, social partners, civil society, people with disabilities and other relevant actors. Based on the new strategy, the debate will pay special attention to key areas that affect the daily lives of people with disabilities, such as accessibility, independent living, deinstitutionalization, community-based and person-centred social services, employment and inclusive education.

The Strategy for the Rights of People with Disabilities 2021-2030, launched by the European Commission on March 3, 2021 and which is at the centre of the proposed reflection can be accessed here.

The provisional programme can be accessed here (this link allows access to the most updated versions of the program until the day of the event). Registration can be done here until April 16^th of 2021, with a limited number of accesses to the zoom platform.

The conference will have translation into Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish, interpretation in Portuguese Sign Language and English subtitles.